US judge blocks Trump administration visa restrictions

A federal judge in Boston issued a preliminary injunction on Monday that halts the implementation of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule that would have imposed stricter limits on the length of stay for foreign students, exchange visitors and journalists in the United States. The injunction was granted one day before the new regulations were scheduled to take effect.

The proposed rule would have capped the duration of student visas at a maximum of four years, after which students would need to apply for an extension. Under the existing “duration of status” framework, foreign students have been allowed to remain in the country for the full length of their academic programs. The rule also sought to limit foreign journalists to stays of 240 days, roughly eight months, with the possibility of comparable extensions, and to restrict Chinese journalists to an initial 90‑day period with 90‑day extensions.

The injunction was sought by a coalition of unions representing universities, teachers and journalists, along with higher‑education advocacy groups. In his order, District Judge F. Dennis Saylor expressed skepticism about the policy, describing the DHS rationale for the changes as “exceptionally weak.” He noted that the agency had cited national security and fraud‑prevention concerns but had not adequately addressed those issues or considered less burdensome alternatives.

Judge Saylor did not rule on the merits of the case, but he placed the rule on hold pending further proceedings. A subsequent hearing on the matter has been scheduled for October 2. In a memorandum accompanying the injunction, the judge highlighted that the current system has permitted tens of millions of foreign students and researchers to study and work in the United States, contributing to advances in science, medicine, technology and to significant economic growth.

The DHS rule, adopted in July, would have replaced a visa framework that has been in place for nearly five decades. Under that long‑standing system, foreign students could remain for the “duration of status” of their programs, a practice that has been credited with fostering a robust pipeline of talent and innovation.

The court’s decision temporarily preserves the existing visa regime while the legal challenges proceed, leaving the proposed caps on student and journalist stays unenforced for the time being.