Indian Harvard students in limbo amid Trump visa crackdown – DW – 05/29/2025

DW

4 days ago

International students are being caught in the middle of the Trump administration's dispute with Harvard. DW spoke with Harvard students from India about a prevailing feeling of "fear and anxiety" on campus.
The Trump administration's recent revocation of Harvard's student visa certification has left the elite university's international student body wondering what the future holds.
Nearly 800 students from India are currently enrolled at Harvard. Parthiv Patel,* a 25-year-old predoctoral fellow at Harvard Business School, said he has hardly slept since the visa revocation was announced last week.
"There is anxiety and fear amongst the international students. We do not know who turn to and what lies in store. You can understand the concerns," Patel told DW.
He added along with losing his visa status, the Trump administration's threatened funding cuts could jeopardize his research.
"I am navigating an uncertain future. My research is tied to Harvard's resources — access to datasets, my advisor's mentorship, and the collective environment here," he said.
"If funding gets cut and international students are pushed out, what's left?"
The revocation of Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) means the university can no longer issue or sponsor F-1 or J-1 visas, which are required for international students to study legally in the US.
Harvard students fear deportation for international peers
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According to Harvard University, this move affects more than 7,000 international students, most of them in graduate programs.
International students with an Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT, which allows post-graduation work authorization for up to three years, face additional complications.
Transferring to another institution could automatically terminate their OPT work authorization and disrupt their ability to work legally in the US.
Although a federal judge in Boston issued a temporary restraining order on May 23, blocking the revocation pending further hearings, the looming threat of deportation or forced transfers continues to weigh heavily on students.
An 'emotional toll'
Ananya Shukla, a public policy student at the Harvard Kennedy School, faces the possibility of having to transfer to other educational institutions or risk losing her legal status to remain in the US.
"I came here to build a future, but now I'm just trying to hold on to what I've got," Shukla told DW.
"I keep thinking, what if I have to transfer? Will my credits even count? Will I get a visa for another school? It's like my entire future is on hold," she added.
"Not only are we left in limbo, our parents are anxious when we can't predict what can happen. It is an incredible emotional toll," Shukla said.
Many students to whom DW reached out were hesitant to speak on the phone or online due to fears of being monitored, potentially leading to disciplinary actions and further loss of opportunities.
Harvard fights back
The dispute between Harvard and the DHS hinges on the department's request to access student records that includes data on disciplinary history, involvement in violence or threats, and participation in protests.
Harvard said the action is unlawful and undermines the school's research mission.
Last week, Harvard spokesperson Jason A Newton called the DHS's move "unlawful" and wrote that Harvard was "fully committed" to enrolling international students.
"This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission," he wrote in a statement.
Students on Harvard's campus protest Trump's crackdown on international students Image: Rick Friedman/AFP
US shutting the door for international students
On Tuesday, the Trump administration further ordered US embassies around the world to stop scheduling appointments for student visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of such applicants.
Indian students represent the largest cohort of international students at US universities, with over 331,000 currently enrolled at various higher education institutions, according to the State Department.
Sandeep Sharma, the founder of the Mumbai-based "NextGen Education India," which has helped place Indian students abroad and provided career guidance, said Trump administration's crackdown has created a climate of fear and uncertainty, potentially deterring future international students from choosing US institutions.
"The students are in deep shock and depressed. The recent developments are a reminder that even the best-laid plans can be vulnerable to politics. But students are resilient, and as a community, we must ensure their dreams do not end at a policy wall," Sharma told DW.
Future of thousands of foreign Harvard students at stake
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*The names of all students quoted in this article have been changed upon request to protect privacy
Edited by: Wesley Rahn