As India cements its status as the top sender of international students to the United States—331,000+ last year—Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to halt work authorizations for student-visa holders. In a post on X, Grassley argued that such permissions “compete against Americans,” violate US law, and heighten risks of “tech and corporate espionage.” He said he has written to DHS Secretary Noem seeking an immediate end to these approvals.

The proposal would likely target Optional Practical Training (OPT), which currently allows international graduates to work in the US for about 12 to 36 months after completing their degrees, depending on the program and STEM eligibility. Curtailing OPT would close a critical pathway to early career experience for foreign students—many of whom are Indian—and could ripple through universities and employers reliant on this talent pipeline.

Grassley’s remarks arrive amid the uproar over the administration’s recent decision to impose a one-time $100,000 H-1B application fee for new applicants, leaving renewals and existing holders unaffected. Together, the measures signal a tougher climate for foreign talent in the US, raising fresh uncertainty for Indian students and early-career professionals.