The Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, a crucial post-study work route for thousands of international students in the US, is once again in the crosshairs of America’s immigration debate, after federal authorities alleged widespread fraud and abuse within the system.
US immigration authorities claim to have identified more than 10,000 students linked to “highly suspect employers” across the country. In a sharply worded briefing, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons described the OPT program as a “magnet for fraud” and warned of criminal, civil and immigration consequences for those found abusing the system.
