Amid Trump move to ban foreign enrolment at Harvard, a ‘lifelong dream' at stake for Indian students

The Print

24-05-2025

In a letter to the Harvard International Office, US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem Thursday ordered a stop to the enrolment of new international students at Harvard this year. Throwing the future of Harvard's current international students into uncertainty, her letter instructed 6,793 students from 147 nations to transfer to other institutions to retain legal immigration status.
The Indian student, currently enrolled in a leadership development programme at Harvard Business School, shared in a LinkedIn post, 'The uncertainty we face as international students has never felt so stark.'
New Delhi: Ever since Shreya Mishra Reddy read about the Trump administration banning international students from Harvard University, she has felt an 'overwhelming numbness.'
Challenging the DHS, Harvard sued the Trump administration Friday morning. Later in the day, a federal judge blocked the DHS move to revoke Harvard's certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP), which legitimises the entry and stay of eligible international students and exchange visitors in the US.
However, students are reeling under the rapidly evolving situation.
'Will I be allowed back on campus? Will I get to finish what I started? Will I see my professors, my friends, my community again? None of us has answers. Today, nearly 27% of Harvard's student body is international. Thousands of us are now suspended in uncertainty—just like I am,' Reddy wrote in a long post. 'Today is difficult for me and so many of us.'
Speaking to ThePrint over a call, a second-year postgraduate Indian student at Harvard Kennedy School called the current times 'extremely difficult'. 'Many of my fellow students come from countries like Palestine, China, and Russia, where speaking out against the government can be dangerous. Students from those regions—who have been vocal—are especially scared. The entire international student community remains shaken,' she said on the condition of anonymity.
The ban, if implemented, could drastically reshape student demographics at Harvard, where international students currently account for 27.2% of enrolment. The largest contingents are, in descending order, from China, Canada, India, South Korea, and the UK.
Terming the decision as 'unlawful' and 'unwarranted', Harvard, in an official statement, has informed its community about its legal moves.
'As we pursue legal remedies, we will do everything in our power to support our students and scholars. The Harvard International Office will provide periodic updates as new information becomes available,' the statement quoted university President Alan M. Garber as saying.
He also addressed the international community directly, reaffirming Harvard's commitment to its global student body. 'For those international students and scholars affected by yesterday's action, know that you are vital members of our community. You are our classmates and friends, our colleagues and mentors, and our partners in the work of this great institution,' Garber said. 'Thanks to you, we know more and understand more, and our country and our world are more enlightened and more resilient. We will support you as we do our utmost to ensure that Harvard remains open to the world.'
On Friday, an op-ed published in The Harvard Crimson, a student-run newspaper, said, 'Harvard's international students are among the most talented scholars in the world, contributing to the university and the United States in myriad ways. They enrich our classrooms and our campus life. Many go on to stay here long after they graduate, excelling in their fields and improving America for the benefit of us all.'
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What led to the situation?
Noem's letter says that Harvard's inability to satisfactorily respond to DHS requests—the first one issued 16 April this year—prompted the action. She stated that the DHS gave Harvard a second opportunity as a 'courtesy' but deemed its response insufficient again.
Harvard failed to provide DHS with the records of international students suspected of participating in protests or unlawful activities over the past five years. 'As a result of your refusal to comply with multiple requests … while perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hámas sympathies, and employs racist diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, you have lost this privilege,' the letter said.
'It is a privilege to enrol foreign students, and it is also a privilege to employ aliens on campus … All universities must comply with Department of Homeland Security requirements … to maintain this privilege,' Noem wrote. 'This action should not surprise you and is the unfortunate result of Harvard's failure to comply with simple reporting requirements.'
The DHS gave Harvard 72 hours to submit documentation of the conduct of non-immigrant students, including their disciplinary records, protest activity, and any threats or illegal behaviour. It warned Harvard that false information could result in criminal prosecution under federal law.
Before this move, the Trump administration had stopped government funds to Harvard.
Experts such as education consultants in India warn of chaos as Harvard international students are in limbo.
Viral Doshi, a Mumbai-based education consultant, described the next 72 hours as 'critical' for affected students, especially undergraduates nearing transfer deadlines.
'Undergraduate transfer deadlines generally close by the end of March. Transfers typically happen in the second or third year. If a Harvard student has completed three years, transferring for a year is nearly impossible. Unless there are exceptional permissions,' Doshi told ThePrint.
Doshi explained that transferring between universities involves more than paperwork. 'Universities must evaluate student academics, application materials, and recommendations. It is a time-consuming and highly detailed process. Unless Harvard actively intervenes, for instance, by contacting universities directly, it will be quite difficult for these students.'
He also raised concerns for graduate students. 'Master's and PhD students are often involved in highly specialised research or coursework not easily replicated elsewhere. Transitioning to another institution mid-programme would be highly disruptive or practically unfeasible.'
The Kennedy School student questioned the feasibility of transferring to another institution. 'If you are coming to the US and spending a huge amount of money, what is the point of leaving Harvard and settling for a diploma or certificate from another institution? The value of the Harvard brand is what brought many of us here,' she said.
Sakshi Mittal, the founder of education consultancy University Leap, echoed Doshi's concerns. 'There is a lot of uncertainty among students, especially those applying for a US visa or who have already submitted their applications. Many of these students have not accepted offers from other universities based on a belief that their path to Harvard is secure. If this decision holds, they will be left scrambling for alternatives.'
Mittal said the decision has shaken not only students at Harvard but also students of other US institutions. 'This move has triggered anxiety about the future of higher education in the US. We are getting calls from students heading to other American universities, asking if the DHS can take similar action against their institutions.'
'First came the mass visa revocations, which already had created a sense of hostility,' she said. 'Now, this ban has only deepened the unease. It is escalating an already fragile situation.'
Alumni say it is
'
unfortunat
e'
Several alumni, speaking to ThePrint, called the move 'unfortunate'. However, they said that they are hoping for its legal overturning or a resolution through negotiation.
B. Nagarajan, a 2012 graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School, expressed deep concerns over the development, calling it a 'sad moment in the history of a great institution'.
While hopeful, he acknowledged the emotional and symbolic weight of the situation. 'It pains me as a Harvard alum that things have come to this. The greatness of Harvard lies in its diversity—not just international students benefit from it. American students also gain immensely through exposure to a wide range of different global viewpoints. This kind of exchange, at such a high level, is what made Harvard the elite of elite institutions,' he told ThePrint.
Another Harvard alumnus, a Supreme Court lawyer who requested anonymity, told ThePrint that for many Indian students, studying in the US or at Harvard is a lifelong dream and aspiration.
'Part of the value of studying at Harvard is the global experience—learning alongside a diverse international community,' the alumnus said. 'This decision will push students to start considering other countries as alternatives. It will undoubtedly impact the number of students choosing to pursue higher education in the US,' he said.
Nagarajan suggested that the controversy should prompt introspection in Harvard, which could seek a balance in political and ideological opinions on its campus.
'Perhaps Harvard can also use this as an opportunity to reflect. Many have pointed out for a long time that the institution has become a hub for left-leaning activism. Even at the Kennedy School, where I studied, viewpoint diversity is lacking. Probably 90 to 95% or maybe 99% of the professors are Left of Centre,' he said.
Preeti Dash, an alumna of Harvard Law School, said the move appears driven more by ideology than policy. 'This specific action, revoking Harvard's right to enrol international students, seems intended to instil fear. It is a power play, signalling that there will be consequences if institutions do not fall in line,' she told ThePrint.
'It is also about showing who is in control. But let us not forget, universities like Harvard hold immense influence, not just in terms of reputation but also financially,' she said. 'This is not just about student visas—it is part of a broader crackdown that Trump frames as a battle against 'woke culture' in American universities.'
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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