In a surprise and dramatic escalation, the government of Donald Trump announced on Thursday (22.05.2025) the withdrawal of the right of foreign students from the University Harvard. The White House called on thousands of international students to transfer to other institutions, otherwise, they are in danger of losing their right to stay in the United States.
Trump’s “Bloc” to foreign students is expected to seriously hit Harvard, in which they are almost studying 6.800 foreign students, Most of whom are attending postgraduate curricula.
This is the latest episode in a series of escalating actions by the US president, because Harvard did not fully comply with the requests for his foreign students’ registries, the memorandum said in a memorandum Internal Security Minister Christie Noem.
Novem accused Harvard of “perpetuating an insecure environment on campus, hostile to Jewish students, promoting support for Hamas and implementing racist policies “Diversity, equality and integration”.
This is not the first time that Donald Trump’s government has been attacking Harvard. Recently interrupted additional grants of height $ 450 million to the university.
Thursday’s decision to ban foreign students at the university escalates the Battle between Harvard and Trumpwho stated earlier this month that will also abolish the tax -free status of the University. The Trump government also recently said that the Foundation would no longer be eligible for new federal state research grants.
Its actions mark a further escalation of the US president’s attack on elite university and show What other universities may expect.
Shocked students and staff
Some of the Harvard students and staff were stuck in the announcement, which left thousands of international students literally in the “air” while mourning for their violent separation from a university for which they fought with nails and teeth.
Jared, 18, from New Zealand, told CNN how he felt ‘As if his heart was torn’ When he learned that he may not be able to start his undergraduate studies at Harvard this fall.
“For me it is one of the best university in the world,” Jared said, comparing the news with the “moving moment” he lived with his family in March when he received the letter of acceptance to study sociology at Harvard.
Jared was in the process of applying for a student visa and was preparing to move 14,500 kilometers away to Boston when he learned about the Trump government announcement.
It is now in uncertainty, looking for alternatives that the university may offer, such as online learning.
“It makes no sense to be upset about something I can’t control. I focus on what I can control, “he said.
Already registered foreign students of Harvard also face one uncertain future. Carl Molden, a second year student from Austria, travels abroad and says he is scared to the idea that he may not be allowed to return to campus. As he says, foreign students exchange anxious messages with each other.
“Many of us have worked a lifetime to get to a university like Harvard, and now we have to wait to see if we need to move elsewhere and face difficulties with our visas,” he said.
Molden said that many international students are worried about being able to complete their summer practices – others fear that they will not receive the same generous financial support from other universities.
He thinks international students are used as “A ball in a bigger conflict between democracy and authoritarianism.”
“Coming from Austria, I am a bit more familiar … with the authoritarian manual and how authoritarian can destroy democracies,” he said. “What I see in the US in recent months is exactly that.”
Members of Harvard’s staff are concerned that the weakening of the University by international students will be seriously hit not only in the institution itself but also in the American academic community in general.
Professor of Finance and former Obama government official Jason Ferman described the measure as “unacceptable in every respect”.
“I can’t imagine Harvard without our amazing international students. It is a huge contribution to all of us, for innovation and for the US in general, “Ferman said.
“Higher education is one of America’s most important ‘export products’ and a source of its mild power. I hope this stops before causing more damage. “
Another professor told CNN that if this policy is implemented, “He is afraid that many research laboratories will be emptied.”
Australian ambassador to the US, Kevin Rand, said the decision “will be traumatic for many Harvard Australian students” and offers them consular advice as they closely monitor the situation.
The Association of Teachers argued that the decision “It is expanding Trump’s terrorist attack on students and researchers from abroad.”
“Foreign students are an integral part of the Harvard community,” the announcement concluded.
Following other universities
Interior Security Minister Christie Noem warned That the same could happen to other institutions.
‘Absolutely, we look at’ similar actions to other institutions, he said, citing it Columbia University as a possible next target.
If the government insists on its decision, this development is estimated to change the population and culture of the oldest university in the country, where over 1/4 of students comes from abroad.
The loss of international students will bring about financial consequencesalthough in the case of Harvard the blow is not expected to be as serious as in other institutions that depend to a greater extent on foreign students’ tuition.
At the same time, the decision creates significant procedural obstacles, as the transfer of those who are forced to leave Harvard to other US universities is not a mere affair.