How Trump's visa crackdown is threatening Harvard's 7,000 plus international students and what the court just ruled

Time of India

21-06-2025

Federal court blocks Trump's move to restrict Harvard's international student enrollment. (AP Photo)
President Donald Trump's administration has escalated efforts to restrict international students at Harvard University, directly affecting over 7,000 foreign students and casting uncertainty over one of the nation's most prestigious universities.
This crackdown targets nearly a quarter of Harvard's student body, shaking the university's global standing and raising significant legal and educational concerns. However, recent court rulings have temporarily stalled some of these moves, leaving the fate of Harvard's international students unresolved.
The Trump administration's push against Harvard's foreign enrollment represents a broader policy effort to tighten controls on international students in the US.
Central to this effort is the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) attempt to revoke Harvard's certification to host foreign students under the Student Exchange and Visitor Program. This program authorizes universities to issue the necessary documents for foreign students to study in the US, making it critical for Harvard's international enrollment.
Federal judge halts homeland security's attempt to block international students
In a significant development, U.S.
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District Judge Allison Burroughs temporarily blocked the DHS's ban on Harvard hosting foreign students, citing irregularities in the government's process. The judge's preliminary injunction prevents the administration from withdrawing Harvard's participation in the visa program until the lawsuit filed by the university is resolved. According to Harvard, the ruling 'does not affect the DHS's ongoing administrative review,' but the court's intervention provides temporary relief for more than 7,000 students relying on the program, as reported by the Associated Press.
The Trump administration claims that revoking Harvard's certification is a lawful exercise of its authority to regulate foreign student visas. Usually, such action is reserved for clear violations like loss of accreditation or failing to operate as a bona fide institution of learning. However, Harvard argues the administration's efforts are politically motivated retaliation over campus protests and alleged failures to control antisemitism, which the university disputes.
Harvard President Alan Garber has stated the university has taken measures to combat antisemitism and will not concede to the administration's demands, according to the Associated Press.
Blocking entry of incoming students and increased visa scrutiny
In addition to attempting to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students, President Trump issued a proclamation to block entry for incoming Harvard students, invoking authority to deny entry to groups deemed detrimental to national interests.
Harvard has challenged this in court, arguing that targeting only Harvard students does not constitute a valid 'class of aliens,' and Judge Burroughs has paused the entry ban for now.
Further complicating the situation, the US State Department has intensified social media vetting for visa applicants attending Harvard and other universities, searching for signs of hostility toward the US. This policy expansion means more scrutiny for thousands of foreign students hoping to study at American institutions.
The State Department also instructed consulates to prioritize visa approvals for students enrolling at schools with less than 15% foreign student populations, a threshold Harvard exceeds, as reported by the Associated Press.
Harvard's international student body and the stakes
International students make up approximately 26% of Harvard's total student body, with certain programs being even more dependent on foreign enrollment.
For example, 49% of students at the Harvard Kennedy School hold F-1 visas, a third of the business school's students come from abroad, and 94% of the master's program in comparative law consists of international students.
This crackdown threatens not only the students' ability to remain in the US but also Harvard's identity as a global academic leader. Conservatives supporting the administration's policies criticize Harvard as a hub of liberalism and antisemitism, but the university insists the government's actions are illegal retaliation, as reported by the Associated Press.
As the court case unfolds, Harvard's 7,000 plus international students remain in limbo, highlighting the complex intersection of immigration policy, education, and politics under President Trump's administration.
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