A federal court gave a green light last week to a lawsuit by a union and IT workers challenging a student visa work program, known as Optional Practical Training (OPT).

The court denied a U.S. government motion to dismiss the case brought by the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers, or WashTech, and three IT workers. The lawsuit alleges that the OPT program is a conduit for low-wage labor and unfair job competition.

The timing of this decision could not be more interesting.

U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle’ s ruling came Friday, one day after President Barack Obama announced plans to expand and extend the OPT program as part of his immigration reforms.

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