Senators Urge Trump to Temporarily Suspend Foreign Student Work Program

Senators Urge Trump to Temporarily Suspend Foreign Student Work Program
President Donald Trump signs the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on April 24, 2020. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
Bill Pan
Bill Pan
Reporter
|Updated:

Four senators urged President Donald Trump on Thursday to suspend the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program for at least a year, or until the U.S. job market recovers from the economic falloff caused by lockdowns.

The OPT program allows international students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to work in the United States for up to three years after graduating, while still maintaining their student visa status. More than 223,000 foreigners had their OPT permits approved or extended in 2019.