After second ICE threat, UC Berkeley indefinitely suspends international student work authorizations

The Berkeley International Office announced Wednesday that it will pause international students’ applications for Course Credit Curricular Practical Training “for the foreseeable future.”The office is acting in accordance with a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo sent to the office Monday, which is a follow-up to another memo sent less than two weeks earlier, which provides additional guidance to universities to monitor CPT authorizations in compliance with federal regulations.“It is unlikely that we will be processing such applications in the near future, so please plan accordingly,” BIO wrote in an email sent to all international students. “We regret taking this action but we believe that it is in the best interest of students who hold F-1 status and that of the university.”Course Credit CPT is a work authorization for international students, allowing visa holders to gain practical work experience in exchange for credit toward their degree program.Now, in accordance with ICE’s updated warning, BIO will be suspending all applications for Course Credit CPT, preventing international students from obtaining work experience unless an “integral part of an established curriculum.”In its email, BIO said it hoped to resume processing Course Credit CPT applications next week but said it needs more time to consult legal counsel following ICE’s warning.The memo said the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, a government program that manages international and exchange students under ICE, has begun auditing schools to ensure compliance. Failure to comply with the regulations may result in an institution losing certification to enroll international students, according to the memo.In the case that Designated School Officials are being pressured by superiors to make noncompliant decisions on behalf of international students, SEVP introduced a new tip line to report concerns for review by SEVP and Homeland Security Investigations.BIO said it will continue processing “degree-requirement” CPT as usual and told international students that it remains “committed to ensuring that your academic experience is fulfilling and rewarding with the present limitations notwithstanding.”“We want to continue to emphasize that we do not take these actions lightly, as we know the importance that CPT plays in your academic journey,” BIO wrote. “We will work collaboratively with academic programs to ensure that we have the necessary infrastructure in place so that we can move forward with processing Degree Requirement CPT applications that comply with ICE requirements.”