Latest news with #StudentExchangeVisaProgram
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
How Not To Reform A University: Trump's Harvard Obsession
The messy scrap between the Trump administration and Harvard University was always more than a touch bizarre. On June 4, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation claiming that the university was 'no longer a trustworthy steward of international student and exchange visitor programs.' It had not pursued the Student Exchange Visa Program (SEVP) in good faith and with transparency, nor adhered 'to the relevant regulatory frameworks.' The university had failed to furnish the government with sufficient information 'to identify and address misconduct', thereby presenting 'an unacceptable risk to our Nation's security'. The nature of that misconduct lay in foreign students supposedly engaged in any number of scurrilous acts vaguely described as 'known illegal activity', 'known dangerous and violent activity', 'known threats to other students or university personnel', 'known deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnel', and whether those activities 'occurred on campus'. Harvard had failed to provide any useful data on the 'disciplinary records' of such students. (The information on three miscreants supplied in the lists were not just inadequate but useless.) Just to make Trump foam further, Harvard had 'also developed extensive entanglements with foreign countries, including our adversaries' and flouted 'the civil rights of students and faculty, triggering multiple Federal investigations.' While the proclamation avoids explicitly mentioning it, the throbbing subtext here is the caricatured concern that antisemitism has not been adequately addressed by the university. In various splenetic statements, the President has made no secret about his views of the university. On Truth Social, we find him berating the institution for 'hiring almost all woke, Radical left, idiots and 'birdbrains''. The university was also hectored through April by the multi-agency Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism to alter its governance processes, admissions and hiring policies, and academic programs. The administration demanded via an April 11 letter to Harvard's president that a third party be hired to 'audit' the views of students, faculty, and staff to satisfy government notions of 'viewpoint diversity' that would also include the expulsion of specific students and the review of 'faculty hires'. Extraordinarily, the administration demanded that the audit 'proceed on a department-by-department, field-by-field, or teaching-unit-by-teaching unit basis as appropriate.' Harvard's refusal to accede to such demands led to a freezing of over $2.2 billion in federal funding. On May 22, the Department of Homeland Security cancelled Harvard's means of enrolling students through the SEVP program or employ J-1 non-immigrants under the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP). In its May 23 filing in the US District Court for Massachusetts, the university contended that such actions violated the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act. They were 'in clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the government's demands to control Harvard's governance, curriculum, and the 'ideology' of its faculty and students.' The June 4 proclamation proved to be another sledgehammer wielded by the executive, barring non-immigrants from pursuing 'a course of study at Harvard University [under the SEVP program] or to participate in an exchange visitor program hosted by Harvard University'. The university successfully secured a temporary restraining order on June 5 preventing the revocation from taking effect. On June 23, US District Judge Allison D. Burroughs granted the university's request for a preliminary injunction, extending the temporary order. 'The case,' wrote Burroughs, 'is about core constitutional rights that must be safeguarded: freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of speech, each of which is a pillar of a functioning democracy and an essential hedge against authoritarianism.' The 'misplaced efforts' by the government 'to control a reputable academic institution and squelch diverse viewpoints seemingly because they are, in some instances, opposed to this Administration's own views, threaten these rights.' On July 21, the parties again did battle, this time over the matter of restoring the money frozen in federal research grants. Burroughs made no immediate decision on the matter but barely hid her scepticism about the government's actions and inclinations. 'If you can make decisions for reasons oriented around free speech,' she put to Justice Department senior attorney Michael Velchik, 'the consequences are staggering to me.' Harvard's attorney Steve Lehotsky also argued that the demands of the government impaired the university's autonomy, going beyond even that of dealing with antisemitism. These included audits of viewpoint diversity among the faculty and students, and changes to the admissions and hiring processes. The demands constituted 'a blatant, unrepentant violation of the First Amendment.' The issue of withdrawing funding was also argued to be a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires an investigation, the holding of a hearing, and the release of findings before such a decision was made. Velchik, very much in the mood for sophistry, made less on the antisemitism issue than that of contractual interpretation. Under government contracts with institutions, language always existed permitting the withdrawal of funding at any time. If Trump was serious about the MAGA brand, then attacking universities, notably those like Harvard, must count as an act of monumental self-harm. Such institutions are joined hip and all to the military-industrial-education complex, keeping America gorged with its complement of engineers, scientists and imperial propagandists. Harvard has also shown itself willing to march to the music of the Israel lobby, which happily provides funds for the institution. The heft of that influence was made clear by a decision by the university's own Kennedy School to deny a fellowship to former head of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth, in early 2023. While the decision by the morally flabby dean, Douglas Elmendorf, was reversed following much outrage, the School had displayed its gaudy colours. Little wonder, given the presence of the Wexner Foundation, responsible for sponsoring the attendance of top-ranked Israeli generals and national security experts in a Master's Degree program in public administration at the university. Trump is partially right to claim that universities and their governance structures are in need of a severe dusting down. But he has shown no interest in identifying the actual problem. How wonderful it would be, and most unlikely, to see actual reforms in university policies that demilitarise funding in favour of an enlightened curriculum that abominates war.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump vs Harvard: US judge puts temporary hold on foreign student ban; small win for university
A US judge temporarily blocked a proclamation by President Donald Trump that prevented international students from entering the US to study at Harvard University. US District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston determined that Harvard would face "immediate and irreparable injury" before she could properly hear arguments from all parties involved in the legal proceedings. Additionally, Burroughs prolonged the provisional suspension she had previously imposed on the administration's earlier effort to terminate Harvard's international student enrolment. The proclamation, announced on Wednesday, represented another effort by the Trump administration to separate America's oldest and most affluent university from 25 per cent of its students, who contribute significantly to Harvard's academic and research achievements. Earlier that day, Harvard submitted a legal petition requesting the federal judge to halt Trump's directive, describing it as unlawful retribution for Harvard's stance against White House requirements. Harvard's amended legal filing on Thursday argued that the president was trying to circumvent a previous judicial ruling. "Singling out our institution for its enrollment of international students and its collaboration with other educational institutions around the world is yet another illegal step taken by the Administration to retaliate against Harvard," Harvard president Alan M. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Device Made My Power Bill Drop Overnight elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Pre-Order Undo Garber said in a letter to the campus community. "As you know, we recently obtained a temporary restraining order enjoining the Administration's illegal revocation of Harvard's Student Exchange Visa Program (SEVP) certification. Last night's proclamation circumvents that court order. Today, we have amended our lawsuit and will ask the court to immediately halt the enforcement of the proclamation. We hope the court will act swiftly," he added. The ongoing showdown stems from Harvard's refusal to submit to a series of federal government demands. The situation escalated recently after the department of homeland security said Harvard refused to provide records related to misconduct by foreign students. Trump had already froze more than $2.2 billion in funding and now had terminated $450 million in grants to the country's oldest university. Following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the US President has repeatedly criticised the university for its perceived inadequate protection of Jewish students. In response, Harvard has broadened its legal challenge against the Trump administration, contesting both the suspension of federal funding and what the institution considers to be demands that compromise its autonomy and violate constitutional principles.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Illegal step': Harvard University files legal challenge over Donald Trump's foreign student ban, seeks immediate court halt
Harvard University and Donald Trump Harvard University on Thursday took a legal route to challenge US President Donald Trump's ban on foreign students. The Ivy League university amended its lawsuit and said that it will ask the court to immediately halt the enforcement of the proclamation. "Singling out our institution for its enrollment of international students and its collaboration with other educational institutions around the world is yet another illegal step taken by the Administration to retaliate against Harvard," Harvard president Alan M. Garber said in a letter to the campus community. "As you know, we recently obtained a temporary restraining order enjoining the Administration's illegal revocation of Harvard's Student Exchange Visa Program (SEVP) certification. Last night's proclamation circumvents that court order. Today, we have amended our lawsuit and will ask the court to immediately halt the enforcement of the proclamation. We hope the court will act swiftly," he added. The Harvard president also said that they are working on plans to ensure that international students and scholars can continue to pursue their work at Harvard this summer and through the coming academic year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A new AI money-making system is taking over Australia Sign Up Undo School leadership will provide updates on this planning. Additionally, the Harvard International Office will be in touch directly with students and scholars who may be affected by the proclamation, also issued last night, banning travel of citizens from certain countries to the United States. Recent developments have intensified the feud between Trump and the University. On Wednesday, Trump issued a directive aiming to prevent US entry for Harvard's international students, potentially affecting thousands scheduled to arrive at the Cambridge, Massachusetts campus for summer and fall terms. Harvard's subsequent legal challenge questioned Trump's use of federal law allowing him to restrict a "class of aliens" deemed harmful to national interests. The university argued that targeting only Harvard-bound students fails to constitute a "class of aliens". "The President's actions thus are not undertaken to protect the 'interests of the United States,' but instead to pursue a government vendetta against Harvard," the university wrote. The administration's heightened scrutiny of student visas nationwide has created widespread uncertainty. Earlier this spring, thousands of students temporarily lost their US residency permissions before the decision was reversed. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced plans to "aggressively revoke" visas for Chinese students.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What Trump's Harvard Visa Restriction Means for International Students
University banners hang outside Widener Library during Harvard's commencement, in Cambridge, Mass., May 29, 2025. Credit - Rick Friedman—AFP/Getty Images President Donald Trump has escalated his standoff with Harvard University, seeking another path to prevent international students from attending the school after a judge blocked an attempt to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll international students. 'I have determined that the entry of the class of foreign nationals described above is detrimental to the interests of the United States because, in my judgment, Harvard's conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers,' Trump said Wednesday, the same day he issued a 'travel ban' restricting nationals from 19 countries on entering the U.S., in a proclamation that seeks to limit foreigners' ability to travel to the U.S. to study at Harvard. 'This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard's First Amendment rights,' the university said in a statement. 'Harvard will continue to take steps to protect the rights of our international students and scholars, members of our community who are vital to the University's academic mission and community—and whose presence here benefits our country immeasurably,' it said in a previous statement. The university has not responded to queries from TIME about how exactly it plans to respond to the proclamation. The proclamation comes days after the State Department reportedly instructed embassies and consulates to increase vetting of visa applicants looking to travel to Harvard for any purpose—with the word 'any' underlined and bolded. Last week, the State Department paused the scheduling of new student visa interviews at embassies across the world to look into intensifying the scrutiny of applicants' social media accounts, citing concerns about antisemitism and terrorism. Harvard has also faced the threat of federal funding cuts and the rescinding of its tax-exempt status. The Cambridge, Mass.-based university is one of several elite higher education institutions in the U.S. that have come under attack by the Trump Administration. Here's what to know. The proclamation suspends the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard, effective immediately. After 90 days, it will be reassessed for extension; otherwise, it will expire in six months. The proclamation applies to those who attempt to enter the country to attend Harvard through the Student Exchange Visa Program. It does not apply to those attending other universities through SEVP. It also directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio to 'consider' on a case-by-case basis whether foreign nationals who attend Harvard and are already in the U.S. under F, M, or J visas should have their visas revoked. The order allows for exceptions to be made for those 'whose entry would be in the national interest,' as determined by Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, or their respective designees. Read More: Harvard's International Students Left in Limbo Amid Legal Battle With Trump Administration Harvard currently has nearly 7,000 international students, representing more than a quarter of its enrollees. Several universities across the globe have already offered to accept impacted students. If international students are forced to transfer, Harvard would suffer financially, as many international students pay full tuition and other associated costs of attendance, which can be as high as about $87,000 per year for undergraduates to $102,000 per year for some graduate students. The latest proclamation comes as Trump's second-term Administration has already sought to cancel thousands of international students' visas across the country, before abruptly reversing course. Recently, the Administration has also targeted students from China, who account for nearly a quarter of all international students in the U.S., citing national security concerns. According to the latest proclamation, the government has concluded 'Harvard University is no longer a trustworthy steward of international student and exchange visitor programs.' The proclamation points to concerns about crime; insufficient cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security; foreign entanglements, including with China; and alleged civil rights violations. 'Crime rates at Harvard University—including violent crime rates—have drastically risen in recent years,' the proclamation asserts, adding that the university 'has failed to discipline at least some categories of conduct violations on campus.' It also alleges that Harvard 'has refused the recent requests of the DHS for information about foreign students' 'known illegal activity,' 'known dangerous and violent activity,' 'known threats to other students or university personnel,' 'known deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnel,' and whether those activities 'occurred on campus,' and other related data.' It concluded: 'Harvard's actions show that it either is not fully reporting its disciplinary records for foreign students or is not seriously policing its foreign students.' The proclamation also cites student newspaper the Harvard Crimson, which reported earlier this year that the university has received over $150 million in funding from foreign governments, more than any of its Ivy League peers. A university spokesperson told the Crimson that donations are used to fund financial aid as well as educational and operational expenses. Trump's latest proclamation also cited a May letter by the Republican-led House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party that alleged 'Harvard repeatedly hosted and trained members of a CCP paramilitary organization.' Lastly, the proclamation claimed that Harvard 'continues to flout the civil rights of its students and faculty.' It referred to the 2023 Supreme Court case Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, in which admissions policies that consider race as a factor were ruled unconstitutional, to suggest that the university engages in 'blatant' 'discrimination against disfavored races.' Harvard, the proclamation alleged, continues to 'deny hardworking Americans equal opportunities,' while it 'admits students from non-egalitarian nations, including nations that seek the destruction of the United States and its allies, or the extermination of entire peoples.' Contact us at letters@
Time Magazine
05-06-2025
- General
- Time Magazine
What Trump's Harvard Visa Restriction Means for International Students
President Donald Trump has escalated his standoff with Harvard University, seeking another path to prevent international students from attending the school after a judge blocked an attempt to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll international students. 'I have determined that the entry of the class of foreign nationals described above is detrimental to the interests of the United States because, in my judgment, Harvard's conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers,' Trump said Wednesday, the same day he issued a ' travel ban ' restricting nationals from 19 countries on entering the U.S., in a proclamation that seeks to limit foreigners' ability to travel to the U.S. to study at Harvard. 'This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard's First Amendment rights,' the university said in a statement. 'Harvard will continue to take steps to protect the rights of our international students and scholars, members of our community who are vital to the University's academic mission and community—and whose presence here benefits our country immeasurably,' it said in a previous statement. The university has not responded to queries from TIME about how exactly it plans to respond to the proclamation. The proclamation comes days after the State Department reportedly instructed embassies and consulates to increase vetting of visa applicants looking to travel to Harvard for any purpose—with the word 'any' underlined and bolded. Last week, the State Department paused the scheduling of new student visa interviews at embassies across the world to look into intensifying the scrutiny of applicants' social media accounts, citing concerns about antisemitism and terrorism. Harvard has also faced the threat of federal funding cuts and the rescinding of its tax-exempt status. The Cambridge, Mass.-based university is one of several elite higher education institutions in the U.S. that have come under attack by the Trump Administration. Here's what to know. What does the latest proclamation do? The proclamation suspends the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard, effective immediately. After 90 days, it will be reassessed for extension; otherwise, it will expire in six months. The proclamation applies to those who attempt to enter the country to attend Harvard through the Student Exchange Visa Program. It does not apply to those attending other universities through SEVP. It also directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio to 'consider' on a case-by-case basis whether foreign nationals who attend Harvard and are already in the U.S. under F, M, or J visas should have their visas revoked. The order allows for exceptions to be made for those 'whose entry would be in the national interest,' as determined by Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, or their respective designees. Harvard currently has nearly 7,000 international students, representing more than a quarter of its enrollees. Several universities across the globe have already offered to accept impacted students. If international students are forced to transfer, Harvard would suffer financially, as many international students pay full tuition and other associated costs of attendance, which can be as high as about $87,000 per year for undergraduates to $102,000 per year for some graduate students. The latest proclamation comes as Trump's second-term Administration has already sought to cancel thousands of international students' visas across the country, before abruptly reversing course. Recently, the Administration has also targeted students from China, who account for nearly a quarter of all international students in the U.S., citing national security concerns. Why is Trump targeting Harvard? According to the latest proclamation, the government has concluded 'Harvard University is no longer a trustworthy steward of international student and exchange visitor programs.' The proclamation points to concerns about crime; insufficient cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security; foreign entanglements, including with China; and alleged civil rights violations. 'Crime rates at Harvard University—including violent crime rates—have drastically risen in recent years,' the proclamation asserts, adding that the university 'has failed to discipline at least some categories of conduct violations on campus.' It also alleges that Harvard 'has refused the recent requests of the DHS for information about foreign students' 'known illegal activity,' 'known dangerous and violent activity,' 'known threats to other students or university personnel,' 'known deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnel,' and whether those activities 'occurred on campus,' and other related data.' It concluded: 'Harvard's actions show that it either is not fully reporting its disciplinary records for foreign students or is not seriously policing its foreign students.' The proclamation also cites student newspaper the Harvard Crimson, which reported earlier this year that the university has received over $150 million in funding from foreign governments, more than any of its Ivy League peers. A university spokesperson told the Crimson that donations are used to fund financial aid as well as educational and operational expenses. Trump's latest proclamation also cited a May letter by the Republican-led House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party that alleged 'Harvard repeatedly hosted and trained members of a CCP paramilitary organization.' Lastly, the proclamation claimed that Harvard 'continues to flout the civil rights of its students and faculty.' It referred to the 2023 Supreme Court case Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, in which admissions policies that consider race as a factor were ruled unconstitutional, to suggest that the university engages in 'blatant' 'discrimination against disfavored races.' Harvard, the proclamation alleged, continues to 'deny hardworking Americans equal opportunities,' while it 'admits students from non-egalitarian nations, including nations that seek the destruction of the United States and its allies, or the extermination of entire peoples.'
