Credit: Alyssa Ao

What you need to know:
On Thursday, May 29, Harvard University won a court battle against the Trump Administration, allowing the school to continue enrolling international students. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs issued a temporary order blocking the U.S. government’s attempts to bar international students from obtaining student visas in order to attend Harvard. However, this initial victory is a temporary one. According t0 the New York Times, lawyers of the Department of Homeland Security “hinted” that the Trump Administration was continuing to search for other ways to ban international students from Harvard.

The Department of Homeland Security stated that they would give Harvard 30 days to meet the administration’s requirements in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which reviews what foreign students can study in the U.S..

“I think that [the Department of Homeland Security is] just looking for any reason or any way to add roadblocks and to punish Harvard for having stood up to their unrealistic and unreasonable demands,” an anonymous Harvard staff member said.

On April 11, the Trump Administration sent a letter to Harvard claiming that “Harvard has in recent years failed to live up to both the intellectual and civil rights conditions that justify federal investment.” The Trump Administration then proceeds to make a list of demands, one of which requires Harvard to close Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs by August. Harvard publicly refused the proposal on April 14, claiming that the demands violate the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

“In contrast, I think Columbia University kind of gave in to some of [the Trump Administration’s] demands, but then the Administration kept asking for more and more and more,” the anonymous Harvard staff member said. “And I think Harvard saw that and realized that if we were to also capitulate that there wouldn’t necessarily be an end to what the government was looking to do in terms of intervening in the university’s practices and policies.”

Why it Matters:
Harvard’s President Alan Garber addressed the graduating Harvard Class of 2025 during Commencement. He referenced the university’s international students, saying how their presence at the university is “just as it should be”, which received a standing ovation by the students. As of Thursday, May 29, international students make up about 27.2% of Harvard’s student body. In a news conference on Wednesday, May 28, President Donald Trump expressed how he believed that there should be a limit to how many foreign students Harvard is allowed to enroll, claiming that there are students who want to attend Harvard but are unable to due to the amount of foreign students.

“[International] students aren’t just part of our community, they really help define it,” the anonymous Harvard staff member said. “So the thought of forcing them out is deeply unsettling, and it’s contrary to the values that we try to uphold.”

With such a large number of international students attending Harvard and contributing to research and studies, there is some concern as to what the loss of these students could mean globally.

“Universities are trying to bring in top students and top researchers to help pave the way for new technology, new medical research, every type of research you can think of,” the anonymous Harvard staff member said. “If we are losing out on those minds, then it can really kneecap our ability to pave way for discoveries in the future.”

The anonymous Harvard staff member reflected on the initial reactions of students at Harvard after the original policy was outlined by the Trump Administration. The staff member recalled how students were “shocked and horrified” at the possibility for international students to be banned from attending Harvard. Even after the initial win for Harvard in court, the anonymous Harvard staff member still feels that there is a lot of uncertainty and concern amongst the student body.

“I’ve been meeting with continuing students and our incoming students who don’t even know if they’re going to be able to get their visas to start their programs this fall,” the anonymous Harvard staff member said. “[I’m] seeing a lot of [the] stress and anxiety that they’re dealing with.”

At Harvard, they make a commitment to include people of many different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to their community, claiming that it is “vital to our success.” In an NPR interview, Garber says the university will stay “firm” in its commitments to education, truth and educating people for “better futures.”

“Revoking the ability to enroll international students wouldn’t just be a blow to the university, it would be a blow to the values of openness and global collaboration that define higher education in general,” the anonymous Harvard staff member said. “The students enrich our campus in every way, and policies like this would undermine the very spirit of that learning and discovery.”

Other Sources to look at:

“Trump vs. Harvard” – The New York Times

“Federal judge extends order blocking Trump administration ban on foreign students at Harvard” – AP News

“Can Harvard outlast the Trump administration and its unrelenting onslaught?” – The Boston Globe