Policy And Courts News

Federal judge halts DHS visa caps one day before implementation

A federal judge in Boston issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing a rule that would cap stays for foreign students, journalists, and exchange visitors. The decision arrived one day before the regulation was set to take effect, preserving the 'duration of status' policy that has allowed international scholars to remain in the U.S. for the length of their training since 1979. While the judge found the government’s national security justification weak, he did not permanently strike down the rule, leaving the legal battle ongoing.