Harvard's International Student Ban Sparks Panic, Legal Uncertainty

A federal judge in the United States issued a temporary restraining order on the 23rd, requiring the status quo to be maintained until a hearing on the 29th regarding the U.S. government's policy of banning Harvard University from enrolling international students. However, panic continues to spread among international students at Harvard, with some expressing reluctance to become "pawns" in the power struggle between the university and the government.

The decision by the U.S. government to revoke Harvard University's qualifications for student and exchange scholar programs and ban the enrollment of international students has plunged thousands of students into panic. They may face challenges such as visa revocation, interrupted research, forced transfers, and inability to return to the U.S. after the summer vacation.

Abdullah Shahid Syed, co-chair of the Harvard University Student Council, stated that thousands of international students are in a state of limbo, feeling extremely anxious about whether they still have legal status and how to cope with a situation that even lawyers are reluctant to get involved in. Syed, who hails from Lahore, Pakistan, is currently traveling abroad after completing his exams and is uncertain if he will be able to return to campus.

"Harvard is Harvard because it has the ability to attract the best people from around the world, not just Americans," Syed said. "The best students in the world come to American universities for advanced studies, and the U.S. benefits from this. However, these individuals are treated inhumanely and disrespected."

International students make up approximately 27% of Harvard's student body, with 6,793 international undergraduate and graduate students from nearly every country in the world. Syed mentioned that the university has provided support for international students facing uncertainty and panic, and he is assisting those who wish to transfer by seeking transfer scholarships. The government's "ban" comes at a time when final exams have just ended and graduation is only a week away, making it impossible for students to transfer to other universities for the fall semester.

Jared, an 18-year-old student from New Zealand, has just confirmed that he will attend Harvard University for the fall semester and is currently preparing for his student visa. He told reporters that the government's "ban" has left him heartbroken.

Another graduate student from Australia mentioned that the anti-Semitic sentiment on campus has affected international students, while researchers and doctoral students are usually uninterested in or lack the time for such issues. This student, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "As a graduate student, I typically spend 80 to 100 hours per week on research, which is my entire focus." The ongoing conflict between the U.S. government and Harvard University could lead to researchers leaving. "If that happens, I am highly likely to transfer to a university in the UK."

International students from conflict-ridden countries such as Ukraine, Palestine, and Afghanistan face even greater challenges. If they lose their legal status in the U.S., they will be deported and unable to return to their home countries.

The U.S. government's "ban" on Harvard University is linked to the ongoing dispute between the two parties over anti-Semitism. From Harvard's perspective, this is clearly a retaliation for the school's refusal to comply with the government's political will. Some international students at Harvard have expressed their unwillingness to become "pawns" in the power struggle between the university and the government.

A postdoctoral student from Israel stated that the U.S. government is using Jewish students as "pawns" and is not genuinely concerned about their safety. The government is using Harvard University to set an example and exert pressure on the entire academic community, which is much larger than Harvard itself, to align with the government's political stance. "I feel like we are all being used."

Since January, the Trump administration has threatened multiple top U.S. universities, stating that they will face funding cuts if they do not adjust their policies. The administration's main demands include eradicating alleged anti-Semitism and abolishing diversity initiatives that favor minority groups.

Harvard University has chosen to resist, facing an increasingly difficult situation. On April 11, the U.S. government demanded that Harvard implement "meaningful governance reforms and restructuring." On April 14, Harvard rejected the Trump administration's request for significant reforms to its management structure, hiring, and admissions policies. The government then froze approximately 22.6 billion dollars in federal funding for the university.

On April 16, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, demanded that Harvard University share information about its foreign student visa holders as per the Trump administration's requirements, or risk losing its ability to enroll international students. On April 30, U.S. officials stated that the Trump administration is monitoring 117 violations by Harvard and other large universities. On May 13, the U.S. government announced that eight federal agencies would terminate an additional 4.5 billion dollars in funding for Harvard University. On May 14, a spokesperson for Harvard University stated that due to the Trump administration's suspension of approximately 27 billion dollars in funding for the university, the school's president will reduce his salary by 25% to mitigate some of the financial impact.