ASPB has joined 56 other scientific, educational, business, and policy organizations in opposing a proposed U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule that could make it significantly harder for international students and early-career researchers to remain in the United States after graduation.
The proposal would impose fees of $70,000 for initial participation in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program and $30,000 for subsequent participation, including STEM OPT. OPT allows international graduates to gain practical work experience in their fields, making it an important pathway into the U.S. scientific workforce.
In a joint letter submitted November 10, the organizations warn that “prohibitive fees on the program will make recruiting top graduates in the sciences much more challenging.”
For plant scientists, the potential consequences include reduced access to research talent, disruptions to laboratory staffing, and challenges sustaining research programs.
The coalition urges DHS to withdraw the proposal, emphasizing that “our ability to retain top international students yields massive benefits for American scientific, technological, and economic progress.”
