A US federal court has halted the planned introduction of tighter visa restrictions for foreign students and journalists, keeping the existing immigration framework in place while a legal challenge against the Trump administration’s policy proceeds.

US District Judge Dennis Saylor issued a preliminary injunction on Monday, stopping the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing the new rules nationwide just one day before their scheduled implementation.

The ruling followed a lawsuit brought by a coalition of universities, educators and journalists, which argued that the proposed restrictions could disrupt international education, academic research and journalism in the United States.

Under the blocked policy, foreign students would have been limited to four years in the US before seeking an extension, replacing the existing arrangement under which eligible students can remain for the duration of their approved studies.

The proposed rules would also have imposed significant restrictions on foreign journalists. They would have been permitted to stay for 240 days, while Chinese journalists would have faced an initial 90-day limit, subject to possible extensions.

While Saylor did not make a final determination on the legality of the policy, he questioned the administration’s justification for replacing a system that has facilitated the entry of millions of foreign students and researchers into the US.

The judge was particularly concerned about the proposed extension mechanism, warning that discretionary and unappealable decisions by Homeland Security officials could abruptly interrupt the academic, research or teaching activities of foreign nationals.

He also highlighted the potential implications for journalists, expressing concern that the absence of an appeal mechanism could expose reporters critical of the US government or Homeland Security officials to non-renewal of their visas.

Saylor described the administration’s national security justification for the changes as exceptionally weak and ordered the restrictions suspended as the legal battle continues.

According to the report, the judge has scheduled another hearing for October 2, meaning the court’s latest intervention is not a final judgment on the administration’s proposed visa regime.

Source: The report was originally published by Goli Innocent on September 15, 2026.