The week’s biggest headline from the Department of Homeland Security is its proposed rule to end “duration of status” for international students and exchange visitors, a policy that’s governed visas for decades. Announced in the Federal Register on August 28, DHS intends to replace the flexible “duration of status,” which allowed students and scholars to remain in the U.S. as long as their programs required, with fixed periods of stay and an extension process. The public has until September 29 to comment before DHS reviews and finalizes the rule. Fanta Aw from NAFSA, the higher education association, called the move, “a dangerous overreach by government into academia.” She argues this proposal could force students into administrative delays or unlawful presence status. International education advocates warn that this change, when combined with new vetting requirements such as social media screening for visa applicants, is likely to chill interest in U.S. academic programs. Just last year, over a million international students were enrolled at American colleges, making up six percent of total enrollment. Experts now predict a significant drop, which could undercut U.S. economic and research competitiveness.
This proposal is part of a series of recent DHS policy shifts. Earlier this summer, the department adopted a more expansive approach to immigration enforcement, removing prior restrictions that shielded certain locations from workplace audits. Social media reviews have been expanded for immigration benefit applications, with USCIS now flagging “anti-American” or “antisemitic” activity as major negatives in discretionary cases. Meanwhile, a new $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” now applies to all nonimmigrant applicants.
For U.S. employers, several changes took effect in January, including a new H‑1B lottery focusing on individual beneficiaries to curb gaming and more streamlined petition approvals for routine extensions. For businesses relying on foreign workers, these policy realignments mean increased compliance costs and the need for closer coordination with legal counsel to avoid unexpected penalties.
On Capitol Hill, the House has passed the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025, setting departmental operating budgets and priorities. The Office of the Secretary’s operational budget will be $281 million, with allocations subject to some reductions. The budget bill also includes oversight and management provisions designed to strengthen accountability and intelligence functions.
Looking ahead, listeners should keep an eye on the comment window closing September 29 for the duration-of-status rule. If you’re a student, scholar, educational administrator, or employer, now’s the time to share your perspective—public input can influence the final policy. Expect further developments on additional immigration fees and bond requirements as the new academic year advances.
Find more on these changes and how to participate in the federal comment process at DHS.gov or the Federal Register. Thank you for tuning in, stay informed, and make sure to subscribe so you’re always a step ahead on the news that matters. This has been a Quiet Please Production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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