America may end or restrict OPT: The what, why, and how of a looming crackdown

The US Trump administration plans changes to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, potentially restricting post-graduation work for international students. USCIS officials, including Joseph Edlow, and immigration experts such as Jessica Vaughan, argue that OPT lacks statutory backing and may be misused. Former White House adviser Stephen Miller criticised OPT as undermining American workers. The programmes changes could particularly impact Indian students, who account for nearly 98,000 OPT participants, while proposed FICA tax revisions may further increase costs for international graduates.