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Trump is threatening international students, and a new bill could help stop him

The Verge / 3/19/2026

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Key Points

  • Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-CA) and Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced a bipartisan bill to codify Optional Practical Training (OPT), preserving a program that lets international students work in the US after graduation.
  • The bill would codify 12 months of OPT, with up to 24 months of STEM extensions, creating a formal bridge from F-1 visas to H-1B employment.
  • OPT, created in 1992, has been under threat amid current policy shifts, underscoring policy uncertainty for foreign students and the US tech talent pipeline.
  • The move could affect higher education and tech hiring in the US, depending on whether the bill advances in Congress.
Department of Homeland Security seal on white background.
Department of Homeland Security. | Image: The Verge

A bipartisan duo is pushing back on President Donald Trump's attempts to end a program that lets hundreds of thousands of foreign students work in the US for a year after graduation. Reps. Sam Liccardo (D-CA) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced a bill that would codify Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows international students to work in their field of study for 12 months, with extensions of up to 24 months for STEM students.

OPT was introduced in 1992 and functions as a sort of bridge between student visas, or F-1s, and H-1Bs, the visa category issued to foreign nationals who work for US companies. But OPT is now under threat …

Read the full story at The Verge.