US unions sue Trump administration over new time limits on student and journalist visas

A coalition of unions and advocacy groups sued the US federal government on Tuesday to block a new rule that would limit how long foreign students, exchange visitors and journalists can stay in the country without seeking extensions.

The rule, issued by President Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security (DHS), introduces fixed periods of stay for people holding F, J and I visas. The regulations are set to take effect on September 15.

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F visas are issued to international students, while J visas cover visitors taking part in cultural exchange programmes that can allow them to work in the US. I visas are issued to members of the foreign media.

At present, these visa holders can generally remain in the US for the duration of their academic programme, exchange programme or employment.

Under the new regulations, international students and exchange visitors would be allowed to stay for no more than four years before needing an extension.

Foreign journalists would be allowed to stay for up to 240 days. Chinese nationals holding media visas would face a shorter limit of 90 days. Currently, journalists can remain in the country for years depending on their employment.

The coalition challenged the regulations in a lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The groups said the changes would be "catastrophic" for universities, international students and scholars.

NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss described the measure as an attack on journalists. The NewsGuild represents many US journalists at Reuters.

"They will discourage foreign students and other nonimmigrants from coming to the United States, repelled by the intolerable prospect of losing lawful immigration status partway through their studies," the groups said in the lawsuit.

"Students will lose opportunities, schools will lose talent, and the public will lose billions of dollars of economic contributions supported by one of the United States' top exports: education."

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The Department of Homeland Security rejected the criticism and called the lawsuit "performative."

"If the media really cared about legitimate international students, they would be thanking President Trump for cracking down on the rampant fraud to ensure only those truly intending to study in the United States are given the privilege," a DHS spokesperson said.

The spokesperson did not provide evidence to support the allegation of widespread fraud.

with reuters inputs