A US federal judge has temporarily blocked a new Trump administration rule imposing stricter limits on the duration of stay for foreign students and journalists in the United States. The ruling, delivered by a district judge in Massachusetts, is expected to provide relief to international students. The judge observed that implementation of the policy would probably cause catastrophic damage to the US economy and the higher education system.

The Trump administration had finalised the rule in July this year. It proposed a four-year limit on visas for foreign students and exchange visitors, while journalists would have been permitted to stay for a maximum of 240 days. However, journalists from China would have been subject to a 90-day limit.

Under the now-postponed policy, students and journalists could apply for extensions of their stay. However, approval would have remained at the discretion of officials of the Department of Homeland Security. The rule also provided no mechanism to appeal a decision denying an extension.