Federal Judge Halts New Regulations Imposing Fixed Stay Limits on International Students in the U.S.

A federal judge in Massachusetts has issued an injunction, blocking a proposed regulation by the Department of Homeland Security that would have replaced the 'duration of status' system with fixed-period admissions for international students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives. The ruling came just hours before the regulation was set to take effect on September 15, 2026, responding to concerns from advocacy groups and higher education institutions about potential harm to international student enrollment and the government's failure to adequately consider public input.