DHS has put out a new proposed rule to impose a fee of $70k for foreign students using OPT and $30k for any subsequent extension of said OPT. Foreign students use OPT to work in the U.S. and use H-1B. DHS says if the fee fails or is shut down, it may entirely end the OPT program.

This is a smart way of forcing opposition into a corner — either let the expensive fee go through or push us to terminate the program altogether. Eliminating certain programs carries legal risks, the DHS is setting the stage around that.