The Department of Homeland Security says the rules are designed to combat fraud, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect U.S. workers.

DHS points to a 2020 visa‑fraud case that involved at least 2,693 people, most of them Chinese F‑1 students seeking OPT, and notes that one participant was convicted as an unregistered Chinese government agent.

Data from the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors report show that nearly 62,000 Chinese students took part in OPT during the 2024‑2025 academic year.

NAFSA: Association of International Educators warned the fee would raise uncertainty for students and hurt the U.S. economy, saying international scholars create, not take, jobs.

Economist Michael Clemens, a professor at Johns Hopkins University and senior fellow at the Peterson Institute, said no research supports the claim that the policy will protect American workers and cautioned it could damage innovation and entrepreneurship.

The proposal ties immigration control to concerns about fraud and labor protection, but critics argue it could limit the main pathway for talented graduates to contribute to the U.S. economy.