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According to CSWE research, international students represent about 12% of all graduate students in social work programs. Losing even a fraction would harm enrollment, particularly at research-intensive universities. Graduate assistants—including international students—support more than 25% of undergraduate teaching at research universities (AAU, 2021). Without these international students, social work programs will face higher teaching burdens and reduced mentorship opportunities.
The negative impact of this rule extends to the social work profession. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% growth in social work jobs from 2022 to 2032, faster than the national average, with over 63,000 new positions expected. We do not need to reduce the international workforce that will help meet this demand.
CSWE has outlined its position in a letter sent to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. The text of that letter is below:
September 29, 2025
Honorable Kristi Noem Secretary,
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget
725 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20503
RE: Docket ID ICEB-2025-0001
Dear Secretary Noem,
On behalf of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) – which represents over 900 accredited baccalaureate, master’s, and practice doctorate degree social work programs, as well as individual social work educators, practitioners, and agencies dedicated to advancing quality social work education – we appreciate the opportunity to submit comments for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) proposed rule, Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media. CSWE has concerns that the proposed rule would have a devastating impact on social work students, patient care, research, and the communities social work students serve. CSWE urges DHS to reconsider these proposed changes.
The duration of status policy has provided international students and scholars studying to obtain a social work degree with the flexibility necessary to complete their educational programs, adapt to unforeseen academic or personal circumstances, and contribute meaningfully to the community through their studies and field experiences. According to our Annual 2022–2023 The State of Social Work Education in the United States, approximately 13 percent of enrolled students obtaining Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) degrees through research doctorate (PhD) degrees identified as international students. The fact that 10 percent of research doctorate students are international underscores the global nature of social work research. Additionally, the average time it takes to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is between 6-8 years depending on your state and pace. A 4-year admission limit would force international social work students into repeated extension requests, deterring enrollment and disrupting research and clinical continuity. CSWE recommends that DHS consider longer admissions limits to account for certain public service professions, such as social work, that may require longer educational needs.
In the case of social work, the effects go beyond just the classroom. Social work is a large part of the behavioral health workforce, and international graduates of U.S. social work programs often remain to serve in high-need communities through Optional Practical Training (OPT) or advanced research positions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6 percent growth in social work jobs from 2024–2034, faster than the national average, with over 74,000 new positions expected. As the U.S. continues to face a growing behavioral health workforce shortage, this proposed rule may undermine an already strained pipeline of qualified behavioral health service professionals and reduce the international workforce that helps meet this demand.
Under the proposed rule, this flexibility would be replaced by strict timelines, shortened grace periods, and additional procedural hurdles that could discourage prospective international social work students from coming to the U.S. to further their education. These rules would have consequential impacts for our social work programs that rely on international students to advance research, strengthen connections to global practice, and help support the most high-need communities.
CSWE thanks the Department for this opportunity to provide comments on this topic related to these proposed rules and offers itself as a resource during the rulemaking process.
Sincerely,
Halaevalu F. O. Vakalahi PhD, MSW, MEd
President and Chief Executive Officer
Council on Social Work Education
Published on : October 9, 2025
In late September 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a rule that would cap the amount of time that foreign students could spend in the country. CSWE believes such a rule would have a negative impact on higher education broadly, and social work education specifically.According to CSWE research, international students represent about 12% of all graduate students in social work programs. Losing even a fraction would harm enrollment, particularly at research-intensive universities. Graduate assistants—including international students—support more than 25% of undergraduate teaching at research universities (AAU, 2021). Without these international students, social work programs will face higher teaching burdens and reduced mentorship opportunities.
The negative impact of this rule extends to the social work profession. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% growth in social work jobs from 2022 to 2032, faster than the national average, with over 63,000 new positions expected. We do not need to reduce the international workforce that will help meet this demand.
CSWE has outlined its position in a letter sent to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. The text of that letter is below:
September 29, 2025
Honorable Kristi Noem Secretary,
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget
725 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20503
RE: Docket ID ICEB-2025-0001
Dear Secretary Noem,
On behalf of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) – which represents over 900 accredited baccalaureate, master’s, and practice doctorate degree social work programs, as well as individual social work educators, practitioners, and agencies dedicated to advancing quality social work education – we appreciate the opportunity to submit comments for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) proposed rule, Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media. CSWE has concerns that the proposed rule would have a devastating impact on social work students, patient care, research, and the communities social work students serve. CSWE urges DHS to reconsider these proposed changes.
The duration of status policy has provided international students and scholars studying to obtain a social work degree with the flexibility necessary to complete their educational programs, adapt to unforeseen academic or personal circumstances, and contribute meaningfully to the community through their studies and field experiences. According to our Annual 2022–2023 The State of Social Work Education in the United States, approximately 13 percent of enrolled students obtaining Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) degrees through research doctorate (PhD) degrees identified as international students. The fact that 10 percent of research doctorate students are international underscores the global nature of social work research. Additionally, the average time it takes to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is between 6-8 years depending on your state and pace. A 4-year admission limit would force international social work students into repeated extension requests, deterring enrollment and disrupting research and clinical continuity. CSWE recommends that DHS consider longer admissions limits to account for certain public service professions, such as social work, that may require longer educational needs.
In the case of social work, the effects go beyond just the classroom. Social work is a large part of the behavioral health workforce, and international graduates of U.S. social work programs often remain to serve in high-need communities through Optional Practical Training (OPT) or advanced research positions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6 percent growth in social work jobs from 2024–2034, faster than the national average, with over 74,000 new positions expected. As the U.S. continues to face a growing behavioral health workforce shortage, this proposed rule may undermine an already strained pipeline of qualified behavioral health service professionals and reduce the international workforce that helps meet this demand.
Under the proposed rule, this flexibility would be replaced by strict timelines, shortened grace periods, and additional procedural hurdles that could discourage prospective international social work students from coming to the U.S. to further their education. These rules would have consequential impacts for our social work programs that rely on international students to advance research, strengthen connections to global practice, and help support the most high-need communities.
CSWE thanks the Department for this opportunity to provide comments on this topic related to these proposed rules and offers itself as a resource during the rulemaking process.
Sincerely,
Halaevalu F. O. Vakalahi PhD, MSW, MEd
President and Chief Executive Officer
Council on Social Work Education