OPT Students Face Deportation Risk Over Employment Data Lapses

Key Takeaways

• ICE and SEVP started sending OPT students 15-day notices in May 2025 to update employment info or risk deportation.
• OPT students must not exceed 90 unemployment days and must update SEVIS employment info promptly under stricter enforcement.
• At least 35 students received warnings; over 1,800 affected by SEVIS terminations and visa revocations by April 2025.

International students in the United States 🇺🇸 who participate in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program are now facing a new and much tougher enforcement environment. In May 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) began sending out a wave of warning notices to OPT students, demanding that they report their employment within 15 days or risk losing their legal status and facing deportation. This marks a sharp change from previous years, when such strict action for reporting lapses was rare. The new policy has created anxiety and confusion among students, universities, and immigration lawyers, and it could have a big impact on the U.S. economy and its reputation as a top destination for international talent.

What’s Happening: The New OPT Crackdown

Since May 15, 2025, ICE and SEVP have started sending warning notices to international students on OPT, telling them to update their employment information in the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) database within 15 days. If students do not comply, their SEVIS records can be terminated, which means they lose their legal right to stay in the United States 🇺🇸 and may be placed in removal (deportation) proceedings.

At least 35 OPT students have been officially confirmed as recipients of these notices, but the real number is likely much higher. Some universities have reported dozens of cases in a single day. This sudden surge in enforcement comes after a period earlier in 2025 when thousands of international students had their SEVIS statuses terminated and then restored after court interventions.

Why Is This Happening Now?

The new wave of enforcement is part of a broader policy shift. ICE now claims it has “inherent authority” to terminate a student’s legal status in SEVIS whenever it believes there is “evidence of failure to comply” with visa rules. This can include not reporting employment, exceeding the allowed unemployment period, or having a visa revoked by the State Department. Importantly, these actions are not subject to court challenge, meaning students have fewer ways to fight back if they believe their status was wrongly terminated.

ICE has also started checking OPT students’ employment status in real time, rather than relying on occasional reviews or waiting until students apply for new visas. This means that any lapse in updating employment information—no matter how small—can now lead to immediate consequences.

The 15-Day Rule and the 90-Day Unemployment Limit

Under OPT rules, students are allowed to work in the United States 🇺🇸 for up to 12 months after graduation (or up to 36 months for those in STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and math). However, they must not exceed 90 days of unemployment during the initial 12-month period. STEM OPT students get a 24-month extension but must also follow strict reporting rules.

Now, if ICE believes a student has gone over the 90-day unemployment limit or has not updated their employment information, the student will receive a notice. They then have just 15 days to fix the problem by updating their SEVIS record. If they don’t, their status can be terminated and they may be deported—even if they are actually working but simply failed to report it on time.

Who Is Affected?

• OPT Students: The main group affected are international students who have graduated from U.S. colleges and are working under OPT. This includes both regular OPT and STEM OPT students.
• Universities: Schools are responsible for helping students maintain their SEVIS records, but many were caught off guard by the sudden increase in terminations.
• Employers: Companies that hire OPT students may lose valuable workers if their status is terminated.
• U.S. Economy: International students, including those on OPT, contributed nearly $44 billion to the U.S. economy in the 2023–2024 academic year.

What Are the Immediate Risks?

The biggest risk for OPT students is deportation. If their SEVIS record is terminated for not reporting employment or for exceeding the unemployment limit, ICE can start removal proceedings right away. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this is a dramatic change from the past, when such terminations were rare and often only discovered later, such as when students applied for new visas.

Another major risk is that if the State Department revokes a student’s visa, there is now no way to challenge that decision in court. This removes a key protection that students previously had.

What Should OPT Students Do Now?

Given the new enforcement environment, OPT students must be extremely careful to follow all rules and keep their SEVIS records up to date. Here are the key steps to take:

1. Reporting Employment

• Log in to the SEVP Portal or contact your school’s Designated School Official (DSO) to update your employment information.
• Report your employer’s name, address, job title, and start date within 15 days of receiving a notice or any change in your employment.
• If you are unsure how to do this, ask your DSO for help right away.

2. Monitoring Your SEVIS Status

• Check your SEVIS record regularly for any changes or warnings.
• If you receive a notice from ICE or SEVP, act immediately to update your information.
• Do not ignore any emails or letters from your school or from immigration authorities.

3. If Your SEVIS Status Is Terminated

• Contact your DSO and an immigration attorney immediately.
• Ask about options for reinstatement or, if necessary, voluntary departure to avoid a formal removal order.
• Do not wait, as delays can make your situation worse.

4. Legal Support

• Seek legal counsel if you believe your status was terminated in error or if you want to challenge removal proceedings.
• Some attorneys, such as Charles Kuck and Elora Mukherjee, specialize in student and OPT cases.

For more information on OPT requirements and reporting, visit the USCIS OPT information page.

What Are the Broader Implications?

For Students

Many OPT students are now living in fear of sudden status loss. Even those who are working and following the rules worry that a simple reporting mistake could lead to deportation. Student advocates report that anxiety and confusion are widespread, with some students losing sleep over the possibility of being forced to leave the United States 🇺🇸 on short notice.

For Universities

University administrators are scrambling to help students keep their status. Many schools were not aware of the SEVIS terminations until students checked their records. Now, schools are urging students to monitor their SEVIS status closely and to report any changes in employment immediately.

For Employers

Employers who rely on OPT students for skilled labor may suddenly lose workers if their status is terminated. This can disrupt projects and create uncertainty for both the company and the student.

For the U.S. Economy

The crackdown on OPT students could make the United States 🇺🇸 less attractive as a study destination. International students contribute billions of dollars to the economy, and many choose to stay and work after graduation. If students feel that the risks are too high, they may choose to study and work in other countries instead.

What Do Officials and Experts Say?

• DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has made it clear that the administration will not hesitate to deport those who are out of status. She said, “If a person’s visa is revoked, I urge them to use CBP Home app to self-deport. If you are in our country illegally, we will arrest, we will deport you, and you will never return. The safest option is self-deportation.”
• Joann Ng Hartmann of NAFSA (Association of International Educators) stressed the need for strict compliance: “More than ever, given a hostile administration – students need to comply with all rules and report OPT employment so they are not considered to have accrued ‘unemployment time’ that could result in a termination of their OPT and status.”
• Immigration attorneys warn that the new policy gives ICE “carte blanche” (complete freedom) to terminate student status. They advise students not to assume they are safe, even if their SEVIS status was recently restored after a court case.

How Did We Get Here? A Brief Background

The OPT program has long allowed international students to work in the United States 🇺🇸 after graduation, as long as they report their employment and do not exceed the allowed unemployment period. In the past, SEVIS terminations for reporting lapses were rare and usually only discovered when students applied for new visas or benefits.

However, since early 2025, there has been a dramatic increase in SEVIS terminations and visa revocations. Over 1,800 students were affected as of April 2025. Multiple lawsuits led to temporary restoration of SEVIS statuses, but the new ICE policy appears designed to avoid these court rulings by making terminations immediate and not subject to judicial review.

What’s Next? The Future for OPT Students

The number of affected students is expected to rise as ICE continues to review OPT compliance. Ongoing lawsuits may influence future policy, but for now, the administration is working to make ICE’s authority to terminate status even stronger and less open to challenge.

The situation remains uncertain, and further changes are possible depending on court outcomes and political developments. Students, schools, and employers will need to stay alert and be ready to respond to new rules or enforcement actions.

Summary Table: Key OPT Enforcement Changes (May 2025)

Practical Guidance for OPT Students

To avoid losing your status and facing deportation, follow these steps:

• Always report your employment within 15 days of starting a new job or changing jobs.
• Keep your SEVIS record up to date by logging into the SEVP Portal or contacting your DSO.
• Check your email and SEVIS status regularly for any warnings or notices.
• If you receive a notice, act immediately—do not wait until the deadline.
• If your status is terminated, get legal help right away.
• Stay informed by following updates from your school, NAFSA, and official government sources.

For official information and resources, visit the ICE official website.

Conclusion

OPT students in the United States 🇺🇸 are now under much closer watch by ICE, with new rules that make it easier for the government to terminate student status and start deportation for even small reporting mistakes. The policy shift is dramatic, with immediate and severe consequences for non-compliance. This has caused widespread anxiety, legal challenges, and warnings from both legal experts and university officials. All OPT participants should be extra careful to keep their SEVIS records updated and seek legal help if they receive any notice or face status termination. The future remains uncertain, but staying informed and proactive is the best way to protect your status and your future in the United States 🇺🇸.

Learn Today

Optional Practical Training (OPT) → A program allowing international students to work in the U.S. after graduation for up to 12 months.
SEVIS → Student and Exchange Visitor Information System used to track the status of international students in the U.S.
ICE → U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency enforcing immigration laws and monitoring visa compliance.
SEVP → Student and Exchange Visitor Program; manages schools and students within SEVIS and visa processes.
STEM OPT → OPT extension allowing STEM graduates to work an additional 24 months under strict reporting requirements.

This Article in a Nutshell

OPT students face tougher ICE enforcement with 15-day employment reporting rules. Non-compliance risks SEVIS termination and deportation, affecting thousands and threatening the U.S. economy and educational reputation.
— By VisaVerge.com