The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s right to admit international students, affecting thousands, including many from India.
In a significant move, the Donald Trump administration in the US stepped up its clash with Harvard University by stripping the school of its right to admit international students. The decision has left thousands of foreign students — including hundreds from India — in a state of uncertainty.
The international students have been told to either transfer to another institution or risk losing their legal status in the US.
Harvard’s official website says that anywhere between 500 to 800 Indian students and scholars are part of the university every year. Right now, 788 students from India are enrolled at the university.
The move could significantly affect Harvard University, which enrols nearly 6,800 international students, most of them in graduate programmes. Those students may now have to scramble to figure out their next steps.
Why did the Trump administration take this step?
The Department of Homeland Security took this latest step because Harvard University refused to comply with requests to produce records about its foreign students, homeland security secretary Kristi Noem said in a letter.
Noem accused Harvard of “perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies and employs racist diversity, equity and inclusion’ policies.’” Harvard said the action is unlawful and undermines the school’s research mission.
Does government have authority over a private college’s enrollment?
The US government has authority over who comes into the country. The department of homeland security oversees which colleges are part of the Student Exchange and Visitor Program, and on Thursday it said it would remove Harvard.
The programme gives colleges the ability to issue documentation to foreign students admitted to the schools. Then, the students apply to obtain visas to study in the United States.
Will Harvard’s current international students be allowed to graduate?
Yes, students who completed their degrees this semester will be allowed to graduate. Noem’s letter said the changes would take effect for the 2025-2026 school year. Harvard’s Class of 2025 is expected to graduate next week.
However, Noem said students who have yet to complete their degree need to transfer to another university, or they will lose their legal permission to remain in the US.
Will admitted students be able to enrol at Harvard in the fall?
No, not unless the government changes its decision or a court steps in. For now, Noem said Harvard could restore its status as a host institution for foreign students if it complied with a list of demands within 72 hours. Those demands include requests for a range of records, such as disciplinary records for international students, plus audio and video recordings of protest activity.
Harvard previously declined to provide those records. On Thursday, the university said it was working to provide guidance to affected students.
How else has the Trump administration targeted Harvard?
Harvard University’s tussle with the Trump administration dates to early April. The storied institution became the first elite college to refuse to comply with the government’s demands to limit pro-Palestinian protests and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion policies. That kicked off a series of escalating actions against Harvard. Various federal agencies, including DHS and the National Institutes of Health, have cut their grant funding to Harvard, significantly impacting research projects conducted by faculty. Harvard has sued the administration, seeking to end the grant freeze.
