Boston federal judge blocks Trump administration rule capping stays for foreign students and journalists

U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor in Boston blocked a Trump administration Department of Homeland Security rule one day before it was to take effect. The rule would have replaced the decades-old 'duration of status' system, capping F visas for international students and J visas for exchange visitors at four years and I visas for journalists at 240 days. Granting a preliminary injunction sought by unions and higher-education groups, Saylor found DHS violated the Administrative Procedure Act, relied on 'exceptionally weak' rationales, held a 'barely legal' 32-day comment period, and warned the rule could be abused to punish disfavored viewpoints, researchers, or institutions. He wrote that damage to higher education and the economy would likely be 'catastrophic.' DHS general counsel James Percival criticized the ruling, saying ICE must 'permit this rampant abuse of our immigration system.'

“The damage to higher education and the economy would likely be 'catastrophic.'” — From Judge F. Dennis Saylor's preliminary injunction ruling blocking the DHS rule.