US federal judge blocks new restrictions on foreign students, journalists — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the implementation of new regulations introduced by Donald Trump’s administration to limit the length of stay of foreign students and journalists in the country, a media report said on Tuesday. Al Jazeera reported that Federal Judge Dennis Caylor issued the preliminary ruling a day before the new regulations of the US Department of Homeland Security were due to take effect. Under the proposed regulations, foreign students holding study visas would be allowed to stay in the US for a maximum of four years, after which they would have to apply for a visa extension. Previously, students could remain in the country until completing their studies. It said the length of stay for foreign journalists would also be limited to 240 days, or about eight months, and they could apply for an extension. Chinese journalists would be allowed to stay for only 90 days and could apply for another 90-day extension. It added that a coalition of unions representing universities, professors and journalists had filed a lawsuit against the visa restrictions. According to the report, Judge Caylor has temporarily blocked the implementation of the new Department of Homeland Security regulations, but has not yet issued a final ruling on the merits of the case. The next court hearing is scheduled for October…