US government stops international students: Harvard's reaction!

US government stops international students: Harvard's reaction!

The US government is planning drastic measures against the renowned Harvard University, which has a long-standing tradition of admitting international students. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has taken steps to prevent Harvard from accepting international students in the future. These decisions, how vienna.at reported, are in the context of a broader conflict between the Trump administration and universities that are perceived as left-liberal.

Harvard has a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification required to admit international students. The Department of Homeland Security plans to revoke Harvard's certification, which the university considers unlawful. If this step were to be taken, international students already enrolled would have to look for other universities in order to secure their legal residency status. The number of international students at Harvard is currently approximately 6,800, which accounts for more than 27 percent of the total student population.

Accusations and escalation

Secretary Noem said that hosting international students is a “privilege, not a right.” She accuses Harvard of not taking sufficient action against anti-Semitism and violence on campus and of maintaining close ties with the Chinese Communist Party. These accusations are part of a broader accusation that also affects the educational institution itself. Harvard recently sued the U.S. government over cuts to billions of dollars in grants interpreted as retaliation for pro-Palestinian protests.

There were reports of a hostile atmosphere for Jewish students on Harvard's campus. This has led to the creation of a lawsuit by Jewish students who want to defend themselves against anti-Semitism at their institution, an issue that also Mirror treated.

Consequences for the university landscape

An important question remains to what extent the planned measures can influence the budgets of US universities. International student revenue is critical for many institutions. Harvard President Alan Garber has announced that he will forego a quarter of his salary, which can be seen as a sign of protest against the government's actions.

The lack of clarity about the legal validity of the revocation of the SEVP certification and the impact on European students raises questions about the future higher education landscape in the USA. The proportion of international students at Harvard has increased since 2010, from 19.7% to 27%, putting the institution in a precarious position as it confronts new challenges in the coming months.