When I first arrived at Harvard, I was struck not just by the grandeur of its campuses or the diversity of its classrooms, but by something more subtle: a promise. The promise that if you worked hard, contributed meaningfully, and followed the rules, America would give you a chance.
That promise is under threat.
On March 25, 2025, Representatives Paul Gosar (R-AZ), and eight other co-sponsors, introduced a bill[i] to eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, a policy that has quietly and effectively empowered thousands of international graduates to acquire practical skills in the U.S. for up to three years (STEM) and 1 year (non-STEM), after completing their studies, and before leaving. To the casual observer, this bill may appear to be a measure to protect American jobs. However, as someone steeped in U.S. law and deeply engaged with both American and international affairs since 2015, I can tell you that if this bill is passed, it will do far more harm than good to students, to the U.S. economy, and yes, even to American workers.
Let’s start with the facts.
According to the latest analysis by NAFSA, international students contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy and supported 378,175 jobs during the 2023-2024 academic year.[ii] Community colleges alone saw a $2 billion contribution. English language programs added another $371 million. These are not just annual statistics; these are groceries bought at family-run stores in Cambridge, rent paid to retired couples in College Station, salaries for adjunct professors in Arizona, and stipends for research assistants in North Carolina. From baristas in Georgia to Uber drivers in Chicago and bookstore owners in Berkeley, the ripple effect of international students supports real American jobs and local economies across America.
The reality is this: the United States is no longer the only destination on the global stage. Many Countries now offer generous post-study work opportunities, making them increasingly attractive to international students. Many of these students, among the brightest minds globally, are carefully weighing their options for where to study, grow, and contribute. A 2021 report warned that eliminating OPT could severely undermine international STEM graduate enrollment, which comprises over 70% of full-time graduate students in key engineering and computer science fields in the U.S.[iii] In today’s global marketplace, talent goes where opportunity exists, and the U.S. must remain a compelling choice.
We must also understand the broader stakes. Over 50% of graduate students in engineering and computer science in U.S. universities are international – international students represent approximately 72% of full-time graduate students in Computer and Information Sciences and about 74% of full-time graduate students in Electrical Engineering.[iv] These students are the lifeblood of research labs, innovation hubs, and high-tech startups. Nearly 55% of U.S. unicorn startups, companies worth over $1 billion, had at least one immigrant founder. Additionally, research by Ilya Strebulaev, a professor at Stanford University, revealed that nearly half of U.S. unicorn founders were born outside the United States.[v] Think Sergey Brin of Google, Elon Musk of Tesla, and John Collison of Stripe. Each began as an international student in the U.S., gaining not only academic foundations but also access to the broader innovation ecosystem, opportunities that helped launch their global impact. While their specific immigration pathways varied, their stories reflect how U.S. higher education, and the opportunities for gaining experience can empower international talent to build transformative ventures that contributes to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
I recently spoke to a friend who was surprised to learn that international students must prove they can cover tuition and living expenses before even getting a letter from the school or visa to travel for studies. International students are not a burden; they are an investment. And America and the world reap dividends.
Some say the program lacks oversight. However, reforms in 2016 significantly strengthened it. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now requires structured training plans and periodic evaluations. Abuse is the exception, not the rule. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. The 2016 STEM OPT reforms even introduced employer training plans, E-Verify participation, and DHS site visits to ensure compliance and quality.
Although critics argue that OPT creates incentives to hire foreign workers over Americans because OPT participants and their employers fail to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes, this exemption on taxes is not unique to OPT; it applies to all F-1 visa holders as a matter of long-standing U.S. tax policy for non-resident aliens.
More importantly, the evidence shows OPT students do not displace American workers. A 2019 NFA study found no negative impact on wages or employment – there is no evidence that OPT takes jobs from U.S. workers.[vi] In fact, OPT participants fill labor shortages in fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), clean energy, and advanced manufacturing, areas where the U.S. urgently needs more talent to compete globally. According to multiple labor market analyses, domestic talent supply in these critical sectors continues to lag demand, leaving key roles unfilled without international graduates.[vii] OPT operates not as a loophole, but as a bridge, connecting American economic ambition with the global expertise needed to sustain it.
Let’s also talk about politics. OPT was first established under a Republican President George H. W. Bush, expanded under his son, Republican George W. Bush, and strengthened under Democrat Barack Obama. This is not a left-or-right issue. This is a bipartisan legacy worth preserving.
OPT is not about ‘foreigners’ taking American jobs. It is about ensuring that future generations of Americans inherit a nation that continues to lead in science, technology, and higher education. Policymakers should strengthen oversight where needed but preserve and expand OPT as a strategic pillar of U.S. innovation, workforce competitiveness, and global influence. Congress should reject H.R.2315 bill and instead pursue legislation that reinforces OPT’s integrity, expands opportunities in critical STEM fields, and ensures the U.S. remains the destination of choice for the world’s best talent.
[i] U.S. Congress. H.R.2315 – To Amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to Eliminate the Optional Practical Training Program, 119th Congress (2025), https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2315/text/ih.
[ii] NAFSA: Association of International Educators, NAFSA International Student Economic Value Tool, accessed April 2, 2025. https://www.nafsa.org/policy-and-advocacy/policy-resources/nafsa-international-student-economic-value-tool-v2.
[iii] Stuart Anderson, International Students in Science and Engineering, National Foundation for American Policy, August 19, 2021, https://nfap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/International-Students-in-Science-and-Engineering.DAY-OF-RELEASE.August-2021.pdf.
[iv] National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), The STEM Labor Force of Today: Scientists, Engineers, and Skilled Technical Workers, NSF 24-320, Alexandria, VA: National Science Foundation, 2024.
[v] Ilya A. Strebulaev, What It Takes to Build a Unicorn: All Facts and Insights in One Place, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Venture Capital Initiative, 2023.
[vi] Madeline Zavodny, International Students, STEM OPT, and the U.S. STEM Workforce, Arlington, VA: National Foundation for American Policy, March 2019, https://nfap.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/International-Students-STEM-OPT-And-The-US-STEM-Workforce.NFAP-Policy-Brief.March-2019.pdf.
[vii] Michel Beine, Giovanni Peri, and Morgan Raux. “International College Students’ Impact on the US Skilled Labor Supply,” NBER Working Paper No. 30431, National Bureau of Economic Research, September 2022, https://www.nber.org/papers/w30431.