Past Updates Arising Out of the Trump-Vance Administration

Recent and Past Updates

Chronological ist of updates that have appeared on NAFSA's Current U.S. Administration page, in reverse chronological order, with the most recent first.

• DOS Plans Comprehensive Reorganization. In an April 22, 2025 press statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced "a comprehensive reorganization plan" for the Department of State (DOS) that Rubio says will be implemented "methodically over the next several months." See NAFSA's page.
• SEVIS Record Termination Litigation. Numerous lawsuits against recent SEVIS record terminations are being filed across the United States. See a sample of cases already filed for an idea of the scope and issues being litigated. April 20, 2025. See NAFSA's page.
• NAFSA Initial Analysis of Visa Revocations and other Actions Targeting International Students and Scholars. April 10, 2025. Since mid-March, NAFSA has been collecting reports of international students and scholars having their visas revoked, their record terminated in SEVIS, and/or being arrested and detained. A NAFSA press release includes our top-level findings along with ways institutions can support their students and upcoming NAFSA events where the field can come together and find community. See NAFSA's press release.
• DHS to Begin Screening Aliens’ Social Media Activity for Antisemitism. April 09, 2025. A DHS news release says that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) "will consider social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity as a negative factor in any USCIS discretionary analysis when adjudicating immigration benefit requests. This guidance is effective immediately." See NAFSA's page.
• DOE Plans for 15% Indirect Cost Limits Placed on Hold by Court. On April 11, 2025 the Department of Energy (DOE) said that it sent a policy memorandum to grant recipients at colleges and universities announcing that it will limit financial support of “indirect costs” of DOE research funding to 15%. See the DOE press release. On April 16, 2025, in a case filed by the AAU, a U.S. District Court in Massachusetts issued a Temporary Restraining Order blocking the policy while litigation continues. See the case docket on CourtListener.
• State Department Announces Plans to Revoke South Sudanese Visas. April 5, 2025. See NAFSA's page.
• NAFSA Signs on to ACE Letter to DOS and DHS Regarding Recent Actions Against Students. April 4, 2025. NAFSA along with other higher education associations signed on to a letter sent by the American Council on Education (ACE) to the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to seek more information on DOS and DHS policy and planned actions relating to recent visa revocations, SEVIS record terminations, and detention and removal of international students. Read the letter.
• ICE-Initiated SEVIS Record Terminations. April 2, 2025. NAFSA continues to receive numerous reports of SEVIS record terminations done by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). See NAFSA's page.
• NAFSA Responds to International Student and Scholar Arrests. In a March 31, 2025 press release, NAFSA addressed the recent reports on detention of international students and scholars, visa revocations, and the termination of SEVIS records, saying that the "government’s recent actions have created an atmosphere of fear and confusion that has students, scholars, and their families understandably concerned about their safety and future in the United States. These actions also undermine what makes U.S. higher education so special: well-resourced, cutting-edge research opportunities; academic freedom; and free speech."
• House Committee Sends Letters to Several Universities Requesting Detailed Information on Chinese Students. A House committee sent letters on March 19, 2025 to six U.S. University presidents asking for written responses to numerous questions regarding demographics, funding sources, research activities, security protocols, and post-graduation trajectories of Chinese national students, particularly in STEM fields, with an emphasis on affiliations with Chinese entities, federally funded research, and potential national security concerns. See NAFSA's page.
• Alliance Condemns Recent ICE Apprehensions and Detentions. In a March 31, 2024 press release, the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration "condemns the apprehension and detention of international students and calls on the administration to respect constitutional rights."
• DHS Extends Mass Influx of Aliens Finding. March 25, 2025. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem extended for another 180 days DHS's initial finding of a "mass influx of aliens" at the southern border. See NAFSA's page.
• DHS Ends Categorical Parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. On March 25, 2025 DHS published a notice in the Federal Register terminating categorical parole for up to 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. On April 14, 2025 a federal district court issued a preliminary injunction blocking implementation of portions of the Federal Register notice. See NAFSA's page.
• DHS Reduces CIS Ombuds Office. On March 21, 2025 news outlets reported that DHS had implemented a "reduction in force" affecting over 100 employees across three oversight offices, including the CIS Ombudsman's Office.
• Executive Order of March 20, 2025: Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities directs the Secretary of Education to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education" and to ensure that the allocation of any Federal Department of Education funds not support "'diversity, equity, and inclusion' or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology." See NAFSA's page.
• Proclamation of March 15, 2025: Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of The United States by Tren De Aragua. On March 15, 2025, President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 on Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan criminal organization that has also been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The proclamation is currently enjoined by a temporary restraining order issued the same day as the proclamation. See NAFSA's page.
• Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and others ordered to reduce scope. March 14, 2025. A presidential order titled Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy "continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary." Section 2 of the order, titled Reducing the Scope of the Federal Bureaucracy, identifies seven governmental entities, including the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, and directs that "the non-statutory components and functions [those] governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, and such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law."
• DOS Determines Immigration is an APA Foreign Affairs Function. March 13, 2025. A Federal Register notice set for publication on March 14, 2025, delivers a broad new determination from Secretary of State Marco Rubio declaring that all federal efforts related to border control, immigration, and cross-border transactions by any agency fall under the foreign affairs function exemption of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). See NAFSA's page.
• USCIS Rule Implements New Registration Requirements. March 12, 2025. A USCIS interim final rule published on March 12, 2025 designates a new "Form G-325R, Biographic Information (Registration)" to implement a new registration and fingerprinting process for individuals who have not been registered through standard visa and entry requirements, including individuals who entered without inspection or who were not issued a Form I-94 and re-registration of children who turn 14 while inside the United States. Visit NAFSA's page for more details.
• Judge Temporarily Blocks Deportation of Arrested LPR Student. March 10, 2025. A New York District Court issued an order to block the removal from the United States of a student who is a lawful permanent resident of Palestinian background, following the student's arrest by ICE agents acting under Executive Order 14188, "Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism." See NAFSA's page.
• INA 212(f) travel ban expected soon. March 10, 2025. An INA 212(f) "travel ban" is expected soon, according to media and other sources. Media reports have identified some countries that may be subject to a ban during this first round, but there have been no official or public government communications on what countries might be included or the scope of any bans on particular countries. See NAFSA's page.
• Visa Interview Wait Time Info No Longer Available on DOS Web Pages. March 7, 2025. Two actions have rendered visa interview wait time information no longer available on the travel.state.gov website. See NAFSA's page.
• DHS and DOS are Revising Forms to Remove "Gender Marker X" options, pursuant to Executive Order 14168, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government. AILA has sued USCIS because of the lack of notice and failure to provide a grace period on revised forms.See NAFSA's page.
• 15-Day Pause on DOS Grant Disbursements. NAFSA notes that members have reported receiving notifications on February 13, 2025 from the Department of State of a "15-Day Pause on Grant Disbursements in the Payment Management System" that took effect on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. The pause applies to all current and future grant payments scheduled during this period. The communications acknowledge that this will impact recipients, ability to carry out program activities and financial planning, but offer no further guidance except that recipients can contact their Grants Officer with questions. See NAFSA's page. Read NAFSA's March 3, 2025 Statement: Suspension of International Education and Exchange Program Funding Threatens U.S. Economic and National Security, and Take Action to Urge Congress to Restore Vital International Education and Exchange Funding!
• DoEd Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) Directs Schools to End Racial Preferences. On February 14, 2025, the Department of Education (DoEd) issued a "Dear Colleague Letter" on the prohibition on "using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life." NAFSA and other associations responded in an February 24, 2025 letter. DoEd posted a set of FAQs on the DCL on March 1, 2025. See NAFSA's page.
• USCIS Changes Policy on Issuing NTAs After Adverse Adjudications. USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0187, Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens (February 28, 2025). "USCIS will no longer exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement, which includes referring cases to ICE and issuance of NTAs... Typically, USCIS will issue an NTA after taking adverse action on a benefit request (i.e., denying an application)." An NTA (Form I-862) is a charging document that, among other things, begins deportation proceedings before an Immigration Judge.
• DOJ Anti-Semitism Task Force to Visit 10 Campuses. On February 28, 2025, DOJ announced that the "Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism" will be visiting 10 university campuses that have "experienced antisemitic incidents since October 2023." See NAFSA's page.
• Executive Order of March 1, 2025: Designating English as the Official Language of The United States. EO on whitehouse.gov. This executive order designates English as the official language of the United States and revokes Biden's Executive Order 13166 of August 11, 2000 (Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency). The new executive order states, though, that "nothing in this order, however, requires or directs any change in the services provided by any agency. Agency heads should make decisions as they deem necessary to fulfill their respective agencies’ mission and efficiently provide Government services to the American people. Agency heads are not required to amend, remove, or otherwise stop production of documents, products, or other services prepared or offered in languages other than English."
• Executive Order of February 26, 2025: Implementing the President's "Department of Government Efficiency" Cost Efficiency Initiative. Targets "discretionary spending through Federal contracts, grants, loans, and related instruments," including "non-essential" travel to conferences and other purposes. See NAFSA's page.
• New Immigration Registration Requirements. Guidance that USCIS posted on February 25, 2025 will require young nonimmigrants who turn 14 while in the U.S. to "re-register" with USCIS within 30 days of their birthday, even if previously registered when entering the country. This may affect, for example, F-2, J-2, H-4 dependents and young F-1/J-1 students who entered before age 14. Most nonimmigrants (e.g., F-1, J-1, H-1B, etc.) who entered the U.S. at age 14+ are already automatically registered (as evidenced by their Form I-94) and DON'T need to re-register. The new registration process isn't available yet but USCIS will announce it when ready. This is also a good time to remind noncitizens to carry their registration document and timely report address changes. Preliminary OMB and Federal Register postings indicate that the form will be designated as "Form G-325R, Biographic Information (Registration). See NAFSA's page.
• Trump "Gold Card." According to Reuters and other news sources, on February 25, 2025 President Trump announced plans to replace the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program with a so-called "gold card" program in which lawful permanent residence could be purchased for $5 million. Read more.
• DOS Revises Visa Interview Waiver Policy. A February 18, 2025 Interview Waiver Update rescinds prior DOS expansions of interview waiver authority, for example, reinstating the statutory 12-month post-expiration period for applicants who previously held a visa in the same category. This marks a shift from the previous policy, which allowed interview waivers for applicants whose prior visa had expired within the past 48 months. See NAFSA's page.
• Cap on NIH indirect funding. On February 7, 2025 the National Institutes of Health (NIH) imposed a 15% cap on the "indirect cost" rate for all NIH grants. On February 10, 2025 the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts temporarily blocked implementation of the 15% cap. The court set a hearing for February 21, 2025. In the meantime, NIH is blocked from implementing the 15% cap nationwide. See NAFSA's page.