The Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security is considering a proposal that would restrict how long international students can stay in the country and institute changes that could hinder their education. 

The changes could have sweeping impacts on The New School, which had an average international enrollment rate of 32% over the last five years, one of the highest rates in the country. Over 3,600 people, 39% of students, were from outside the U.S last year.

The proposal by the DHS would change the terms on how long F and J visa holders may stay in the country to complete their education. Currently, international students are allowed to remain until the completion of their studies or program, known as duration of status (D/S). The proposal aims to remove D/S and instead implement a fixed time period of four years. 

As of Sept. 29, the DHS stopped accepting public opinions about the proposal, and will begin reviewing over 15,700 submitted comments before deciding whether to eliminate the current duration of status rule, according to Inside Higher Ed.

Though public commenting on the proposal is closed, the response from students, immigrants, universities, and non-profit organizations is almost unanimously opposed to the implementation of this proposal. 

NAFSA, the world’s largest nonprofit comprehensive professional association dedicated to international education, said in a comment, “if it becomes final, the damage done by this rule will be felt on our campuses and in our communities and will harm our country’s standing in the world.”

Many of the comments also expressed annoyance with the relatively short duration allotted for comments, claiming the amount of time was not sufficient for thorough public discourse.

One anonymous comment said, “30 days is entirely insufficient for meaningful public comment, given the complexity of this matter and the dense 45-page proposal that was published in the Federal Register.”

In the event that the proposal passes, the DHS said that international students may apply for extensions, should they take longer than four years to complete their respective programs. 

These extensions, however, are costly and can take six months or longer to process. After applying and paying for the extension, it is not guaranteed that the extension will be granted.

Currently, most bachelor’s programs are designed for four years. However students often take longer to complete their degree due to transferring, changing majors, or personal issues that may take a student away from school. The proposal would also restrict international students from being able to transfer to other colleges.

This rule would apply to master and doctorate students as well. Some doctorate degrees, such in the field of medicine and science can take up to seven years to complete, making the restriction unfeasible for international Ph.D. students. 

The Trump administration has been steadily ramping up attacks against international students. In August, the State Department told Fox News that over 6,000 student visas have been revoked in 2025, “for overstays and law violations.” In some instances, international students were blocked from getting visa appointments, further sowing chaos among the international student body. These tactics are targeted not just at the students, but at the universities that the Trump administration have sought to take down, claiming they are pushing liberal ideologies. 

The proposed rule, if finalized, could create a barrier for international students to attend and complete their degrees at all universities across the country — including The New School. 

Despite the overwhelming opposition, many fear it is likely the DHS will move ahead with implementing their proposal based on actions the department has taken against international students in recent months.