How important is having an internship to get a good job for ML PhD in USA? [D]

Explain Like I'm Normal

International ML students are facing a major career hurdle as several top-tier US universities suspend CPT programs, which allow foreign students to work internships. Even with a high-impact research portfolio in 3D computer vision, the lack of industrial experience due to policy changes is creating significant anxiety for the next generation of researchers. This shift could tighten the talent pipeline for AI labs relying on doctoral interns.