Supporters of Donald Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) agenda have shifted their attention from the H-1B visa to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, a vital route for international students to gain work experience in the United States. The OPT allows F-1 visa holders to work temporarily in fields related to their academic studies. While the program is essential for many international students, MAGA advocates argue that the OPT, especially its STEM extension, takes away job opportunities from American workers.
The OPT program, authorized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), provides students with an opportunity to work part-time or full-time in the U.S. after completing their studies. Those in STEM fields benefit from a 24-month extension, enabling them to work in the U.S. for up to three years. Indian students, who constitute the largest group of international students, are particularly reliant on this program. In the academic year 2023-24, nearly 30% of Indian students were enrolled in OPT, with a significant number pursuing degrees in engineering and computer science.
Despite its importance, MAGA supporters have mounted challenges against the program. In 2023, the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers (WashTech) filed a petition to the Supreme Court, seeking to end the STEM OPT extension. Although the Court declined to hear the case, the ongoing opposition to the program raises concerns for Indian students who rely on it to transition to longer-term work opportunities in the U.S.
