International Students at Risk? Harvard Fights Trump’s Visa Revocation Order
TL;DR
- Recent developments have brought attention to the relationship between the U.S. government and Harvard University, involving changes to policies impacting international students.
- Issues such as visa regulations, university funding, and campus policies are being discussed and debated. These events are significant for international students as they could influence the study abroad experience and the environment at U.S. universities.
- Prospective students should follow official updates from Harvard University and U.S. government agencies for the most current information.
The Trump administration moved Thursday to kick out thousands of foreign students enrolled at Harvard University, accusing its leaders of fostering antisemitism — only for a federal judge to block immigration officials from revoking the legal status of international students just hours later.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the cancellation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) for the Ivy League Institution — meaning current international students must transfer or leave the US — after threatening in a letter last month that leaders not providing data about crimes committed by foreign students would force her hand. Concerns about university connections with international entities have also been raised.
Harvard says “NOPE!”
A spokesman for Harvard responded to the announcement by declaring the action “unlawful.”
“We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University — and this nation — immeasurably,” the spokesperson said. “We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”
Just hours later, a federal judge in California issued a nationwide injunction blocking the admin from terminating the legal status of international students, while a court case challenging previous terminations is pending.
The order by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White in Oakland bars immigration authorities from arresting or holding international students based on their legal status. White issued the injunction sought by attorneys for about two dozen students who sued after their status was abruptly terminated in early April by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Meanwhile, Noem had already cancelled $2.7 million in research grants to the Ivy League institution last month.
On April 16, Noem fired off a letter to Maureen Martin, Harvard’s director of immigration services, requesting information about SEVP students’ criminal histories. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains that the university ignored the query as well as a follow-up request. Noem sent the letter before Harvard sued the Trump administration for cancelling $2.2 billion more in research grants and other funding for allegedly fostering hatred on campus.
The university’s affirmative action policy, which became the subject of a high-profile Supreme Court case two years prior, also prompted the cancellation. The following month, Trump’s administration scrapped another $450 million in grants and was hit with a superseding lawsuit by Harvard. “The Government’s actions flout not just the First Amendment, but also federal laws and regulations,” the revised suit filed by attorney Steven Lehotsky of the law firm Lehotsky, Keller Cohn stated.
READ MORE:
- Potential Impact on International Students: To understand the possible effects of this dispute on international student policies and experiences at Harvard and other US universities, see: [https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-and-harvard-timeline-of-past-disagreements-criticisms-2020-4]
- Official Statements and Policy Changes: For updates on visa regulations and policy changes related to international students, refer to the official statement from the Department of Homeland Security: [https://x.com/Sec_Noem/status/1925612991703052733]
- University Response and Support: To learn more about Harvard University’s stance and the support they are providing to international students, visit: [https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/05/01/us/harvard-antisemitism-trump-administration-reforms
It is difficult to imagine that any Indian student would be unaware of Harvard University’s position among American universities … or indeed among all universities of the world. It has long been considered the most prestigious and influential university in the US, and it ranks among the top universities globally. Its reputation for academic excellence, research output, and alumni influence is unmatched. It is the wealthiest university in the world, having an endowment exceeding $50 billion. Its wealth allows it to fund groundbreaking research, attract top faculty, and maintain financial aid programs that support students from diverse backgrounds.
It is the oldest institution of higher learning in the US, founded on September 8, 1636. For 389 years, Harvard has been a stronghold of academic freedom, fostering intellectual debate and resisting external pressures.
There has been an ongoing confrontation between the U.S. government and Harvard University regarding various policies. The political campaign targeting Harvard alarms other US universities. If mighty Harvard succumbs to punitive actions, then other universities, with far less by way of financial and political resources, have little hope of resisting similar assaults.
The present situation represents a crucial moment for US higher education – and for the place of international students studying in the country. Whatever happens next will have long-term implications for higher education in the US and the conditions under which international students will be admitted to those institutions in future.
YUNO LEARNING’S ASSESSMENT:
Keep a careful watch on how the Trump versus Harvard story unfolds. Harvard will go to court. Eventually, there will be a ruling and this ruling will have ramifications for institutions of higher education all across the USA … and for international students too.