KABUL (Pajhwok): A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the implementation of new regulations introduced by Donald Trump’s administration to limit the length of stay of foreign students and journalists in the country, a media report said on Tuesday.
Al Jazeera reported that Federal Judge Dennis Caylor issued the preliminary ruling a day before the new regulations of the US Department of Homeland Security were due to take effect.
Under the proposed regulations, foreign students holding study visas would be allowed to stay in the US for a maximum of four years, after which they would have to apply for a visa extension. Previously, students could remain in the country until completing their studies.
It said the length of stay for foreign journalists would also be limited to 240 days, or about eight months, and they could apply for an extension. Chinese journalists would be allowed to stay for only 90 days and could apply for another 90-day extension.
It added that a coalition of unions representing universities, professors and journalists had filed a lawsuit against the visa restrictions.
According to the report, Judge Caylor has temporarily blocked the implementation of the new Department of Homeland Security regulations, but has not yet issued a final ruling on the merits of the case. The next court hearing is scheduled for October 2.
In a memorandum issued alongside his ruling, Caylor expressed concern over the new restrictions on foreign students and journalists.
He said the current system had allowed tens of millions of foreign students to enter the US, contributing to groundbreaking research in medical sciences and technology, economic growth and other benefits.
Caylor added that instead of reforming the existing system, the Department of Homeland Security had decided to replace it with a new programme that would significantly limit the number of foreign students, researchers, professors and journalists.
According to Caylor, under the new regulations, the Department of Homeland Security could have discretion to reject visa-extension applications, with no possibility of appeal.
The judge warned that a Department of Homeland Security official could, based on limited and vague criteria and without the possibility of appeal, stop the academic, research or teaching activities of a non-US citizen.
Foreign journalists would also have no avenue to challenge or appeal a decision rejecting their visa-extension applications.
Caylor added that such a situation could create opportunities for abuse and that the visas of journalists who criticised the US government or Department of Homeland Security officials might not be extended.
According to official figures, more than 1.1 million international students were in the US during the 2023-24 academic year, making it the world’s leading host country for foreign students.
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