Analysis
The proposal is part of a broader immigration crackdown that has reshaped the economics of studying in America. A $100,000 fee would dwarf the total cost of a typical degree for many international students, and for the OPT programme - the most common pathway into US tech jobs - it would effectively price out most graduates.
The economic stakes are significant. International students contribute more than $44 billion to the US economy each year, and a large share of them go on to fill STEM roles in the tech sector. Universities, already facing enrollment pressure, have warned that such a fee would be a powerful deterrent for the world best talent.
The legal question is equally fraught. A federal judge has already voided an earlier $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, ruling the charge unlawful. Any new fee on OPT would face similar challenges, but the administration appears willing to test the limits of executive action on immigration once again.