On August 18, 2026, a number of organizations (including NAFSA: Association of International Educators; the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration; the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM); the American Federation of Teachers (AFT); Graduate Labor Organization, AFT Local 6516 (GLIO); and other entities) filed a complaint and a motion with the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) final rule ending the Duration of Status (D/S) framework for international students, exchange visitors, and representatives of foreign media. If the motion is granted, the District Court may issue a preliminary injunction suspending implementation of the rule pending further litigation.

ISSS has posted this update to our Final Rule Information Hub, and we will continue monitor and update the Brown community as this case proceeds. At this time, the final rule is expected to go into effect on September 15, 2026. If there are any developments that affect this timeline or any other aspect of the final rule, we will post an update to this information hub and email our community members as appropriate and needed.