OPT Amicus Brief Actions
On November 21, 2019, the Presidents’ Alliance, in collaboration with Jenner & Block, filed an amicus brief in support of Optional Practical Training (OPT) in Washington Alliance of Technology Workers v. Department Of Homeland Security et al.The brief was joined by 118 public and private universities and colleges representing all sectors of higher education. The brief and its diverse, wide-ranging list of supporters demonstrated how colleges, universities, and the economy benefit tremendously from OPT.
For more information on this case, see our press statement, the backgrounder prepared by the Presidents’ Alliance and partners, and NAFSA’s website.
Update (January 29, 2021)
On January 29, the federal district court judge in the WashTech litigation issued summary judgement in favor of the government and intervenors; and denied the motion to strike the Presidents’ Alliance amicus brief. Though this decision will likely be appealed by the plaintiffs it represents a tremendous victory for higher ed institutions.
Update (December 2, 2020)
On November 30, 2020, a federal judge in the district court for the District of Columbia concluded that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has legal authority to allow foreign students to work in the U.S. after graduation under OPT. The judge granted summary judgment to DHS and the parties that intervened in the lawsuit in support of OPT, the National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Information Technology Industry Council. The judge will issue a memorandum opinion and final order confirming these conclusions, “absent extraordinary circumstances,” in the next 60 days.
Additionally, the judge denied the plaintiffs’ motion to strike the higher education amicus brief which the Presidents’ Alliance coordinated and to which 118 colleges and universities joined. As noted in our response to the plaintiffs’ motion, the perspectives of institutions of higher education “can, and should, aid the Court as it considers the case.”
Resources
- Opinion and Order Granting Summary Judgement for Intervenors and Federal Government (January 29, 2021)
- Order Granting Defendants’ Cross-Motion and Intervenors’ Motion for Summary Judgment (November 30, 2020)
- Amici Higher Education Institutions’ Opposition of Motion to Strike (March 20, 2020)
- 118 Colleges and Universities File “Friend of Court” Brief to Protest Potential Rollback of Optional Practical Training (November 25, 2019)
- OPT Higher Education Institution Amicus Brief (November 21, 2019)
- List of Institutional Amici (November 25, 2019)
- Communications Toolkit (November 22, 2019)
