• Policy Watch: Rising Scrutiny on International Students and OPT Compliance
• Supreme Court Allows Venezuelan TPS Wind-Down to Proceed
• E-Verify System Error Impacts SSA Mismatch Cases

Policy Watch: Rising Scrutiny on International Students and OPT Compliance

The Trump administration recently moved to restrict international student access at Harvard, including suspending student visa eligibility and SEVP certification though a federal court has temporarily blocked enforcement. At the same time, ICE has begun issuing warning notices to F-1 students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) who have not reported employment, threatening SEVIS termination and potential removal if no action is taken within 15 days.

Impact: These developments underscore the need for clear guidance and support to help F-1 OPT hires stay compliant and maintain valid status.

Supreme Court Allows Venezuelan TPS Wind-Down to Proceed

On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court permitted the Trump administration to move forward with ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans, while litigation continues. The timing of when TPS protections and work authorization will be formally revoked remains uncertain.

Impact: Employers should monitor developments closely and support TPS-holding employees with clear communication and contingency planning to maintain work authorization and business continuity.

E-Verify System Error Impacts SSA Mismatch Cases

On May 19, 2025, E-Verify announced a technical issue affecting cases referred between April 9 and May 5, where Social Security Administration (SSA) mismatches or dual SSA and DHS mismatches—may have incorrectly resulted in Final Nonconfirmations (FNCs), despite employees taking appropriate steps to resolve them.

Impact: Review affected FNCs and reinitiate E-Verify cases if needed. Do not take adverse action based on impacted results, and monitor case statuses for delays.