Universities Take Washington to Court Over New Limits on Student Internships

Until recently, an international student at a US university could take an academic-credit internship with little more than a school official’s sign-off. That routine is now in doubt. On Monday, October 5, four of the country’s most influential higher-education organizations sued the federal government over a sudden narrowing of Curricular Practical Training (CPT), the program that lets F-1 students hold jobs related to their degrees while still enrolled.

The Lawsuit

The plaintiffs are the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM). They named US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice as defendants, according to The PIE News. Carnegie Mellon’s international office confirmed the case was filed in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. At issue are two broadcast messages that ICE and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) sent to universities in August.

What Changed

CPT has traditionally been available when training forms an integral part of an established curriculum and relates directly to a student’s field of study, as Higher Ed Dive describes the regulations. Under the new reading outlined in the complaint, students would qualify only if the experience is required of every student in the program. Elective internships taken for credit, which are widespread, would no longer count.

The plaintiffs say this overturns a long-settled agency interpretation. SEVP officials, per The Harvard Crimson, portrayed the messages as a reminder of existing policy. The Crimson adds that the messages also warned schools they could lose SEVP certification, the status that allows them to enroll visa-holding students.

Universities Respond

The effects were immediate. According to the lawsuit, as reported by Higher Ed Dive, Columbia, Michigan State and Tufts have narrowed the CPT programs they approve. The Crimson reports that Harvard is among several institutions that have suspended CPT authorizations entirely. The plaintiffs contend schools had little option but to comply at once, given the threat to their ability to enroll international students at all.

Students are feeling it first. RN Law Group, summarizing the complaint, says some lost internships and placements arranged months earlier. Bloomberg Tax reports the filing as saying schools cannot plan for the coming semester without clarity, and that school officials could face criminal liability for CPT they approved under the rules in force at the time.

RN Law Group also points to an allegation that DHS has started asking about past CPT when students apply for other immigration benefits. For a student on the path from study to work to a green card, an old internship could draw scrutiny years later.

What the Plaintiffs Want

The complaint asks the court to restore the earlier interpretation, per The Crimson. Envoy Global’s summary identifies three goals: reinstating the CPT framework colleges relied on, shielding institutions and students from penalties tied to past authorizations, and preserving access to practical training. Carnegie Mellon’s notice adds that the plaintiffs want to prevent retroactive penalties.

A Broader Squeeze on International Students

The suit arrives amid a string of restrictive measures. Bloomberg Tax notes that an ICE rule finalized in July, which ended open-ended status for F-1 students and J-1 exchange scholars, has since been blocked by a federal court. The PIE News adds that the lawsuit came days after the administration proposed charging universities $70,000 for each international student they recommend for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Taken together, these moves threaten the flow of research assistants, interns and graduates that many American universities and employers depend on, and they affect institutions of all sizes, from major research universities to small colleges.

What Students Should Do Now

Universities are urging patience. Carnegie Mellon says it will follow the case and update its website, and it encourages students with time-sensitive questions to contact its international office. RN Law Group recommends keeping course records. Practically speaking, anyone on CPT should consult their designated school official before starting, extending or changing a placement, and hold on to their I-20 and training documents.

The case is still early. Until a court rules, the August messages remain the guidance schools are following, and thousands of students are waiting to learn whether their planned internships can proceed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is CPT?
Curricular Practical Training allows F-1 students to complete internships, practicums or co-ops connected to their studies while enrolled.

2. Who filed the lawsuit, and when?
The AAU, the Presidents’ Alliance, NAFSA and AICUM filed it on October 5, 2026.