Universities and students say the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed rule to limit international students and exchange visitors to fixed terms would be disastrous for America’s future. They’re right.

Today, at ports of entry, international students are admitted for “duration of status,” which means they can continue their studies at a United States university so long as they pursue a full course of study and make progress toward completing those studies. The new rule would allow foreign students only fixed two- or four-year terms unless they convince U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services adjudicators that they have a “compelling academic reason” to keep studying in America.