Judge blocks Trump limits on how long foreign students and journalists can stay in US

A federal judge in Boston has blocked a Trump administration rule that would have limited how long foreign students and journalists could stay in the U.S. without seeking extensions. U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor ruled in favor of unions and higher education groups, stating the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lacked a strong rationale for the policy and failed to consider alternatives. The rule, set to take effect the day after the ruling, would have capped F and J visas at four years and I visas for journalists at 240 days, replacing a long-standing "duration of status" system. Judge Saylor warned the rule could cause catastrophic damage to higher education and the economy. DHS criticized the ruling, claiming it allows for "rampant abuse" of the immigration system.

A US federal judge in Boston has blocked the Trump administration from imposing time limits on F and J visas for foreign students and cultural exchange participants, and on I visas for journalists. The Department of Homeland Security had proposed capping these visas at four years for students and exchange visitors, and 240 days for journalists, citing national security and fraud prevention. The judge found the administration's rationale "exceptionally weak" and warned of "catastrophic" damage to higher education and the economy. Separately, a coalition of Democratic-led states has filed lawsuits challenging a broader federal regulation that would allow immigration authorities to deny green cards to immigrants who lawfully use public benefits.