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Students unsure, experts wary of Trump's Harvard ban despite court stay
Even as Trump's June 4 proclamation suspending the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard was temporarily blocked by a federal judge late Thursday night India time, experts say students are not sure of the US administration's next move. The uncertainty is set to affect the upcoming fall intake in August.
Kajal Dave, co-founder of LaunchEd, said that the move likely affected thousands of international students currently applying or planning to study in the US, casting uncertainty over their academic futures.
'While the order specifically targets Harvard, it may set a troubling precedent, raising fears among students and universities nationwide about the stability of international education policies,' she added.
The tussle comes amid an escalating dispute between the Trump administration and higher education institutions, especially Harvard. The administration had last month banned foreign students' admission to the university, an order that was also blocked by a federal court.
This was followed by the US State Department ordering all its consular missions and embassies overseas to begin social media vetting of visa applicants looking to travel to Harvard University for any purpose.
Abhijit Zaveri, founder and director of Ahmedabad-based education consultancy firm Career Mosaic, said that the move raises concerns, not only for incoming students but also for the broader international student community in the US.
Harvard currently hosts 10,158 international students and scholars across its schools. Of these, 788 — the second-largest cohort — are from India, according to university data. China tops the list with 2,126 students.
However, according to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the move comes after Harvard allegedly refused to provide information on certain foreign students involved in protest activities.
'Admission into the US to attend, conduct research, or teach at our nation's institutions of higher education is a privilege granted by our government, not a guarantee,' the proclamation signed by Trump stated.
It added that this privilege is necessarily tied to the host institution's compliance and commitment to following federal law. 'Harvard University has failed in this respect, among many others,' it alleged.
While the suspension of visas applies to foreigners wanting to attend Harvard University through the student and exchange visitor programme (SEVP) after the date of the proclamation, it would be the secretary of state's discretion if the visas of foreign nationals currently attending Harvard on F, M, or J visa should also be revoked.
Highlighting that this section of the proclamation raises serious concerns about fairness and due process, Dave said the move could abruptly disrupt the lives and studies of students already residing in the US.
Zaveri added that the possibility of reviewing and revoking existing academic or exchange visas adds to the uncertainty for those already enrolled.
'However, students are being informed in advance, and in some cases, may be advised to consider transferring or seeking admission to alternative institutions, depending on the guidance issued by relevant authorities,' he said.
Dave said the resulting uncertainty has understandably impacted students preparing for the upcoming fall session. She added that despite past court interventions blocking similar actions, the repeated policy shifts are also prompting many students to reconsider or delay their plans, with some now looking to alternative destinations with clearer, more student-friendly visa policies.
The continuous and growing uncertainty has led Indian students to look for new academic destinations, with Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, and even Russia, finding favour — despite language barriers — for their easy immigration policies and promise of work opportunities after the course ends.
According to the education ministry data, Germany saw a 68 per cent increase in Indian students — to 34,702 in 2024 from 20,684 in 2022. New Zealand, meanwhile, witnessed a whopping 354 per cent jump from 1,605 to 7,297 during the same period. Russia saw a 59 per cent rise in Indian students and Ireland 49 per cent.
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Hindustan Times
4 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Vantara to set up elephant rehab facility in Kolhapur
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Upon receiving the necessary grants and permissions, Vantara's team will begin the implementation in close coordination with relevant authorities, the organisation said. 'This proposal is not intended for any credit or recognition of Vantara. We remain fully open and respectful to any alternative proposal the Jain Matha may wish to put forward, in accordance with the final directions of the honourable court,' the statement said. After the meeting with Fadnavis, Vanatara's Karani went to Kolhapur to meet the chief of the Jain shrine, Jinsen Bhattarak Mahaswami, who expressed his satisfaction with the proposal. 'I welcome the approach of [Reliance Foundation director] Anant Ambani and give my blessing to him for returning Mahadevi and providing rehabilitation services at Nandani with the support of Vantara. After a legal process with the help of the Maharashtra government, Vantara and the forest department, Mahadevi will come back to Nandani,' he said. Congress MLC Satej Patil, who participated in the protest demanding Mahadevi's return to Nandani, welcomed the outcome of the meeting between the chief minister and Vantara, saying it was a victory of the unity of Kolhapur's people. 'I wholeheartedly welcome the decision of the Vantara management to rehabilitate Mahadevi, the elephant, in Kolhapur after the due legal process. Heartfelt thanks for everyone's support and to team Vantara,' he said. Mahadevi was with the Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswamy Sanstha at Nandani for over three decades. On July 16, the Bombay high court ordered her relocation to the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust in Jamnagar, managed by Vantara, after animal welfare organisations such as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) underlined her poor health and argued that she was not getting proper care at the shrine. The shrine challenged the order, but the Supreme Court on July 25 upheld it, after which the elephant was moved from Nandani to the Jamnagar facility. Following Mahadevi's relocation, thousands of people in Kolhapur participated in protests demanding her return to the shrine.
The Hindu
4 minutes ago
- The Hindu
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Business Standard
4 minutes ago
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Best of BS Opinion: When the earth shakes beneath power, policy, and trade
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