Grassley Demands End to OPT for F-1 Students Amid Tensions

Senator Chuck Grassley is urging the Department of Homeland Security to halt work authorizations for international students on F-1 visas, a push that directly targets the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program and could reshape the post-study path for hundreds of thousands of foreign graduates. The move arrives as immigration tensions rise following President Trump’s new $100,000 H-1B visa fee, and as universities brace for possible drops in international enrollment this fall.

DHS has not announced any action, but Grassley’s call signals a renewed fight over how the United States balances labor market protections, national security concerns, and its role in training global talent.

Grassley’s argument and the target: OPT

In a post on X and a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Grassley argued that work authorizations tied to student visas are “in direct violation of law,” citing risks to American workers and to sensitive technology. His demand explicitly includes ending Optional Practical Training, which lets F-1 graduates work in the U.S. for 12 months, and up to 36 months for STEM fields under the STEM OPT extension.

If DHS acts, the impact would be immediate for students planning job starts this winter and spring and could ripple through hiring plans for employers that regularly recruit from U.S. campuses.

Scale and timing: why this matters now

• According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, India is the largest source of international students in the U.S., with more than 331,000 Indian students enrolled as of 2024.
• That same analysis points to a possible 50% decline in Indian student enrollment this fall.
• Any sudden change to OPT would likely deepen that drop, undercutting universities that rely on international tuition and the graduate programs that feed key research and industry pipelines.

Rationale from both sides

• Grassley frames his position as protecting U.S. jobs and intellectual property, pointing to federal warnings about espionage risks and the potential for technology transfer through training programs. He also calls OPT a “backdoor work program not authorized by Congress.”
• Supporters of OPT say the program is a long-standing part of student visa rules, designed to give graduates short-term practical experience related to their fields of study, and that many employers use it to evaluate early-career talent before pursuing long-term sponsorship.

Universities and employers are watching closely for the department’s next move: DHS could reject the request, propose narrower limits, or begin formal rulemaking that would take months and invite heavy public comment.

Immediate stakes for students and employers

• For many F-1 students, the OPT window is the only period when they can work in the U.S. without first winning a cap-subject H-1B (awarded by lottery).
• Removing that bridge would force many graduates to leave soon after finishing their programs, with little chance to gain U.S. job experience or compete for roles that match their degrees.
• Employers commonly align new-graduate hiring to OPT start dates, so hiring teams face uncertainty for roles slated for early 2026.

Important administrative note:
– Students request work permits using Form I-765; the USCIS instructions are posted at: Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
– If DHS halts approvals or curtails renewals, pending applicants could see denials or shortened periods that derail job offers.

Sectoral impacts: STEM and campus recruiting

The effects would be widest in STEM-heavy programs where Indian students form a large share of graduates, including:

• Computer science
• Data science
• Electrical engineering
• Biotech

University career offices report that OPT participation helps graduates convert internships into full-time roles and gives smaller companies a low-risk path to hire talent before trying for H-1B sponsorship. Without that path:

• Many firms might shift recruiting outside the U.S.
• Entry-level roles could be moved offshore
• Employers could compete in other countries with clearer post-study work rules

Legal, economic, and campus fallout

• OPT is grounded in regulations that interpret the F-1 student category to include practical training tied to the academic program. Past legal challenges have tested the STEM extension and agency rulemaking steps.
• Policy attorneys expect fresh litigation if DHS moves to end OPT entirely—especially if changes apply to students already in the program or who relied on existing rules when choosing degree tracks.
• Universities would likely join suits, arguing harm to academic programs, research output, and campus finances.

Business groups push back, arguing:

• OPT supports the U.S. innovation engine by keeping graduates of U.S. programs in the talent pool.
• Short-term training does not guarantee a long-term visa; students still must qualify for H-1B, O-1, or other categories.
• Cutting OPT could shift roles to Canada, the U.K., or Germany, where post-study work rules are more predictable.

University and local economic impacts include:

• Loss of higher international tuition revenue
• Reduced graduate assistantships and research staffing
• Downstream effects on campus-area housing, retail, and transportation

Human impact: students and families

Students planned degrees around an OPT year or the STEM extension to:

• Build resumes
• Repay loans
• Find sponsors

Without work authorizations, many could be forced to return home quickly—sometimes with debt and no U.S. job experience. Families who invested in American degrees would have fewer options to recover costs.

Universities are already advising anxious students about options such as:

• Deferring admission
• Switching destinations
• Choosing programs with strong on-campus job prospects

Possible DHS responses and narrower policy options

If DHS does not accept a full stop, it could impose stricter guardrails instead. Possible measures include:

1. Cutting post-completion OPT from 12 months to a shorter period
2. Reducing the STEM extension from 24 months to a smaller window
3. Requiring higher wages aligned with local prevailing pay
4. Expanding site visits, reporting, and audits for STEM OPT employers
5. Tightening school oversight to prevent sham placements or staffing usage

Even targeted changes would:

• Slow hiring cycles
• Raise compliance costs
• Push smaller employers without immigration counsel out of campus recruiting
• Make students avoid majors tied to long post-study pathways

Political dynamics and near-term actions

The political setting adds heat: Grassley’s request arrives as Congress debates broader immigration changes after the new H-1B fee. Expect:

• Lawmakers sympathetic to higher education and industry to defend current student training rules
• Hardliners to press for cuts
• Potential parallel bills—one to restrict training and another to protect or codify it—leading to prolonged uncertainty

For now, schools recommend international students:

• File any time-sensitive Form I-765 applications promptly under current rules
• Keep job offers, training plans, and school endorsements well documented
• Talk with designated school officials and employers about backup options
• Consider earlier start dates where possible to lock in approvals already issued

Employers are taking steps such as:

• Reviewing start dates and contract clauses
• Planning remote work arrangements outside the U.S.
• Opening roles in Toronto and Vancouver as temporary alternatives

Watchlist: milestones to monitor

Stakeholders will watch for four milestones in the coming weeks:

• A DHS statement confirming whether the agency will act on Grassley’s request
• Any proposed rule or policy memo on OPT or student-based work authorizations
• Organized responses from universities, technology groups, and business coalitions
• Early enrollment data as fall classes settle and deferral requests accumulate

Grassley’s push highlights a core tension in immigration policy: how to protect American jobs and security without pushing away the very graduates U.S. schools trained. If DHS halts or cuts OPT, the change will reshape graduate study plans, employer pipelines, and the country’s reputation as a training ground for global talent. If DHS holds the line, the fight will likely shift to Congress and the courts, keeping international students and their U.S. employers on edge as they await a clear answer.