• Trump administration issues memo restricting internships for international students.
• Colleges face potential loss of certification for non-compliance with new rules.
• Universities like UCLA and UC Berkeley pause internship applications amid uncertainty.
• The memo cites concerns about improper use of Curricular Practical Training.
• Broader implications involve federal investigations into university practices.

The Trump administration has released a memo indicating tightened conditions for internship work authorizations available to international students, warning that universities could face loss of certification to enroll these students if they fail to comply with the new guidelines. The memo, dated August 24, from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), part of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, highlights an increase in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorizations that "appear to violate regulatory requirements," requiring that such training be integral to established curricula, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and India Times.

The new directive has prompted several universities, notably the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, Berkeley, to pause certain applications for work authorizations pending further review. A spokesperson from UCLA stated, "UCLA has paused certain Curricular Practical Training authorizations while it reviews recent federal guidance and determines next steps," while UC Berkeley's international office indicated that the directive would likely hinder processing of some applications "in the near future," as they explore compliance, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The Department of Homeland Security clarified that, while guidance has been made stricter, "nothing about these regulations has changed," asserting a zero-tolerance policy for any abuse of the CPT program. The memo reflects a broader initiative by the Trump administration, which has been scrutinizing universities over various issues such as diversity policies and pro-Palestinian protests, leading to investigations and threats to funding, as detailed in India Times and Channel News Asia.

Furthermore, the Justice Department has been increasingly active, alleging biased admissions practices at institutions like George Washington University, which purportedly favor Black and Hispanic applicants. This ongoing scrutiny feeds into the government's overall pressure on educational institutions as they navigate the complexities of compliance with federal expectations, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and India Times.