'Devastated' Welsh Harvard student fears Donald Trump may stop him ever returning to campus

Wales Online

3 days ago

'Devastated' Welsh Harvard student fears Donald Trump may stop him ever returning to campus
Alfred Williamson said he was 'determined' to keep his place at the Ivy League College despite an escalating row between Donald Trump's administration and the university
Alfred Williamson has just completed his first year at Harvard University
(Image: Reuters )
Welsh student Alfred Williamson was living the dream. A former pupil of Kings Monkton School in Cardiff, Alfred had just wrapped up his first year at the prestigious University of Harvard, studying physics and government, a world away from his old south Wales classroom.
The Ivy League campus had quickly become a second home; a place of opportunity and inspiration. As he set off to Denmark for his summer break, the 20-year-old was already counting the days until he could return.
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However, for Alfred and thousands of others, that return has been cast in doubt. According to Harvard's records, the university had enrolled over 6,700 international students last academic year, which made up 27% of its student body.
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Alfred Williamson has just completed his first year at Harvard University
(Image: Reuters )
Alfred is among those caught in the crossfire of a growing dispute between US President Donald Trump and Harvard, a conflict centred on the administration's efforts to restrict the enrolment and retention of international students at the university.
It was announced that the Trump administration had revoked the school's ability to enrol foreign students attending the school on visa; forcing any current international students to transfer or ultimately lose their legal status. "Harvard wants to fight. They want to show how smart they are, and they're getting their ass kicked," President Trump had stated.
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Since taking office in January, it is reported that the Trump administration has taken aim at Ivy League schools, with Harvard facing particular criticism; accused of fostering violence, antisemitism and even working with the Chinese Communist Party, despite no evidence being provided.
Hundreds of international students have been left devastated by the Trump administration's decision
(Image: Reuters )
While a federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the order, the news has left many students scrambling for what to do next as they remain in the dark over what will happen after the summer. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
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"When the news hit, I was in complete and utter shock that he did do it," Alfred said, recalling the moment he learned of the decision. "I didn't know how to respond; I didn't know what to feel; I didn't know what to think; I didn't know if I'd be an illegal immigrant suddenly, or as they describe people like us, aliens. Yeah, so it was very devastating news."
Speaking to The New York Times, Alfred added that he had messaged a friend from the UK, asking if they should consider a transfer to Oxford or Cambridge, a conversation that would have seemed unthinkable in the weeks prior. "People are taking this very seriously," he said. "Everyone's freaking out. No-one knows what to do."
Alfred is determined to maintain his place at the university, which he has come to love
(Image: Reuters )
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Some students, wary of a backlash, have told Reuters that they have hesitated to speak out publicly, in fear of being targeted by US authorities. Alfred admitted that while he shared those concerns, he felt he had an obligation to speak out.
"I think that the point where people begin to self-silence is a very dangerous path. When people start to self-silence, we are no longer living in a democracy. And, for me, it's absolutely critical that I voice my opinion so that we preserve these values that America was founded on. In fact, the ideals of freedom and rights."
In light of this, Alfred said he was unwilling to contemplate the prospect of transferring to a different university. Regardless of his fear, he is determined to remain at Harvard, arguing that the international community contributes a lot to the United States.
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"I really, really keep my fingers crossed for the whole international (student) community because they are currently having a very bad experience with what's going on right now."
This sentiment has been echoed in a recent Tweet by Harvard University, which simply stated: "Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard."
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