Latest news with #KyleMazza
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Harvard's International Students Left In Limbo
Students walk the grounds of Harvard University, an Ivy League school in Cambridge, Mass., on April 22, 2025. Credit - Kyle Mazza—Getty Images There's not a day that goes by that Miguel, a first-year PhD student from Spain, doesn't appreciate his experience as an international student at Harvard University. But after a sudden punitive decision by the Trump Administration, Miguel—who asked to be identified solely by his first name—may be forced to face an unthinkable decision: transfer to another school or risk losing his opportunity to study in the U.S. Miguel is one of roughly 6,800 international students at Harvard left in limbo after the Trump Administration on Thursday revoked the university's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, which allows the school to enroll international students. The Trump Administration's decision is already facing a legal challenge. Harvard University is suing the government over what it says is 'clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the government's demands to control Harvard's governance, curriculum, and the 'ideology' of its faculty and students.' A federal judge on Friday blocked the Administration from enforcing its revocation while the legal battle plays out. The revocation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program would prevent Harvard from enrolling international students for the upcoming academic year, and would force existing international students to transfer to another university or lose their nonimmigrant visa status, according to a letter sent by the Department of Homeland Security to the school and later shared on social media by Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem. DHS gave Harvard 72 hours to comply with a list of demands in order to reinstate its authorization. The Administration's move is the latest escalation in its attack on elite universities across the U.S., with heavy penalties levied on Harvard, including a threat to revoke the university's tax-exempt status. Those penalties have only grown more severe as Harvard has refused to capitulate to the Administration's demands. 'Universities like Harvard have been unequivocal in their stance—they will not surrender their constitutional rights and are prepared to fight back legally,' says Arkesh Patel, chief operating officer of higher education consultancy firm Crimson Education. But the legal fight is likely to be protracted, says Simon Marginson, professor of higher education at the University of Oxford and director of the Center for Global Higher Education. In the meantime, international students are left in the lurch. 'We are all very scared,' says Miguel. 'There is a lot of uncertainty still. We don't really know what the immediate implications are for us current students in this context.' The revocation 'imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams,' the university's president Alan Garber wrote in a letter to the campus community announcing the lawsuit on Friday. Read More: Harvard vs. Trump: A Timeline of Escalating Federal Pressure on America's Top University In an earlier statement to TIME, Harvard spokesperson Jason A. Newton called the DHS' move 'unlawful' and said the university is 'fully committed' to enrolling international students. More than a quarter of the school's student body hails from outside the U.S., according to university enrollment data for the 2024-2025 academic year. Karl Molden, a sophomore from Austria, was on a family vacation when he heard the news. 'I broke out in sweats,' Molden says, adding that he doesn't know if he'll be able to reenter the U.S. or continue his studies at Harvard in the fall semester. 'I've had the best two years of my life at Harvard, I've made some really amazing friends, and learned so much from other people beyond academics,' Molden says. 'Having to leave Harvard would mean maybe not seeing some of them ever again. It's really hard to speak about, because this has been my life, and right now it all seems like it's falling apart.' It's a concern that many international students are now facing. Miguel says he hasn't yet thought about transferring schools, which he will likely have to do if Trump's move is enforced. 'We basically do not know how this affects us current students as of right now,' he says. Previous actions by the Trump Administration have already left many international students confused about their rights in the U.S., as the Administration began quietly revoking thousands of students' visas before reversing course, and targeting foreign-born students for deportation. 'We are scared that if we leave the country, we may not be able to reenter,' Miguel says. 'Most of us have made a lot of sacrifices to be here, and have taken a lot of effort to make it to where we are today. Not being able to continue with the research that we have started, at the institution where we chose to study, is really scary.' In the meantime, students should 'avoid travel abroad unless absolutely necessary, as reentry may still be risky' and should 'prepare for [all] possible outcomes if the injunction is lifted or the [Harvard] lawsuit fails,' says Pierre Huguet, CEO of H&C Education, a college admissions consulting firm. The move has come amid a broader crackdown on universities accused of failing to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and adequately quash pro-Palestinian activism on campuses. 'I didn't come to the school to sit in class and remain silent,' Abdullah Shahid Sial, student body president and a sophomore from Pakistan, told Harvard's student newspaper, the Crimson, in April. 'I came here because I believe in the values which I was promised. I believe in the values which the United States once stood for: free expression, free thought, and fearless speech.' Harvard Students for Freedom, a group formed to advocate for the rights of students in light of Trump's crackdown on universities, called the decision 'an anti-American attack on our core values of freedom and education' in a statement posted to social media. Read More: Protests, Police, and Politics at Columbia University Take the National Spotlight Again: What to Know In recent months, the Trump Administration has targeted students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests for immigration action, among others who had no connection to campus activism. 'Trump's strategy is pretty clear, he's trying to set an example out of a few people, like Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil, and [through] that trying to silence many more,' says Leo Gerdén, a senior from Sweden and an organizer for Harvard Students for Freedom alongside Molden. Gerdén says the Administration's actions have already chilled campus activism. Read More: How the U.S. Betrayed International Students 'It creates a climate of fear that undermines free speech on our campus,' says senior Jada Pierre, who is American. Still, she says 'the activism isn't dying down, if anything it's getting louder,' and both students and the university administration have pushed back. The Trump Administration argues the opposite. 'Consequences must follow to send a clear signal to Harvard and all universities that want to enjoy the privilege of enrolling foreign students, that the Trump Administration will enforce the law and root out the evils of anti-Americanism and antisemitism in society and campuses,' the DHS letter reads. 'Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country,' Noem posted on X, alongside the letter. 'The government argues its actions are a response to Harvard's alleged noncompliance with federal efforts to improve campus safety, particularly for Jewish students,' says Huguet. 'Harvard's lawsuit, on the other hand, contends that these actions violate First Amendment protections, suggesting that its disagreement with federal policy is being punished through immigration enforcement.' Huguet notes that the central argument as to whether this impacts freedom of speech has "become a matter of perspective'—but either way 'these conflicts are eroding the U.S.' credibility as a haven for free expression and liberal thought.'Meanwhile, Marginson says it's freedom of expression that makes the U.S. attractive to foreign talent. 'The U.S. appears to offer a freer atmosphere than at home, and the sense that you can make up your own mind about things,' says Marginson. 'The U.S. loses that now in this environment, if [the Administration's demands] persist.' International students contribute critically to the U.S. economy through tuition fees and local spending, says Janet Ilieva, the founder and director of research consultancy Education Insight. In the 2021-2022 academic year, international students in the U.S. generated nearly $34 billion and supported over 335,000 jobs, according to nonprofit association of professional educators NAFSA. 'If enrollment drops, it could impact not only the richness of the academic experience, but also the financial model of many institutions that depend on international tuition fees,' Patel says.'The U.S. has a reputation for independent, autonomous universities,' Marginson notes, arguing that the Trump Administration 'wants to bring them to heel.' If Harvard's lawsuit fails, it would 'legitimize the idea that immigration status can be weaponized to suppress dissent,' says Pierre, adding that 'international students should never be used as bargaining chips.' The consequences of removing international students at Harvard could have long-term consequences on the U.S.' ability to attract foreign talent—not only in higher education, but also in shaping its word-class research. 'Some of the best people from around the world get together at Harvard to find solutions to the millions of unanswered questions,' Miguel says. While Ilieva adds: 'Banning students from attending one of the world's most prestigious universities risks significantly undermining the United States' soft power and reputation as a premier global study destination and scientific powerhouse.' The curtailing of academic freedom at Harvard would indicate the 'obvious' potential for it to happen at other elite institutions, like Yale and Princeton, says Marginson, noting that universities across Western Europe and East Asia, particularly China, could benefit by attracting the talent that would have otherwise gone to the U.S. Already, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has said it will provide unconditional transfer offers to Harvard international students affected by the ban, with several other universities in Hong Kong following suit. Patel says that some prospective students have already expressed concern about recent political developments in the U.S. Other prospective students being advised by the higher education consulting firm Crimson Education have leaned towards the U.K. or other alternatives to the U.S. 'The U.S. has been the premier system,' Marginson says. 'And Harvard's reputation carries the U.S. system to some extent. For Harvard to be substantially weakened in the eyes of the world is for the U.S. higher education system to be somewhat weakened.' Contact us at letters@
New York Post
19-05-2025
- New York Post
3 people in white Rolls Royce get shot outside NYC club
Three people in a white Rolls Royce were shot outside a Queens nightclub early Sunday, according to cops and law-enforcement sources. The victims — two women, both 23, and a man, 24 — were inside the flashy luxury car with Illinois plates in front of the Amadeus Nightclub on Albion Avenue near Barnwell Avenue in Elmhurst when someone started shooting at their ride, according to authorities and sources. One of the women was shot in her chest and rushed in a marked NYPD vehicle to the Elmhurst Hospital Center, where she was listed in stable condition. Advertisement 3 All three victims were shot inside this white Rolls Royce with Illinois plates, sources said. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock 3 Two women and a man were shot outside the Amadeus Nightclub in Queens early Sunday. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock The other woman was shot in her right ankle, and the man was blasted in his right arm, police said. Advertisement The pair were taken to the same hospital by EMS workers and also listed in stable condition. No arrests had been made by Monday, and the motive for the violence remains under investigation. 3 The motive for Sunday's violence remains under investigation. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Advertisement The nightclub is no stranger to violence. In January 2023, a 19-year-old man was killed and a 31-year-old woman wounded when bullets flew outside the hot spot, cops said. Police said at the time that a dispute began inside the nightclub and spilled outside, where the suspect opened fire.
New York Post
19-05-2025
- New York Post
Cops bust boy, 14, for handing teen the gun used in fatal shooting of innocent girl in Bronx schoolyard: sources
A 14-year-old boy who cops believe supplied the gun that killed an innocent 16-year-old girl in a Bronx schoolyard last week has been busted, law enforcement sources said. The boy – who has been at large since the deadly May 12 shooting of Morris High School freshman Evette Jeffrey – was picked up by the US Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force at a family friend's apartment building on Monday morning in NYCHA's Forest Houses, the sources said. Charges are pending against the teen, the second 14-year-old picked up in connection to the senseless murder. Advertisement 4 Evette Jeffrey, 16, was shot and killed last week. Facebook 4 On Monday evening at approximately 5:05 PM, police officers respond to Home Street and Tinton Avenue where they find Evette Jeffrey unconscious. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock The first 14-year-old suspect, who appeared before a judge from a hospital bed late last week, was charged with second-degree murder, prosecutors said. Advertisement He pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail. 'The defendant fired numerous shots on school grounds in the direction of approximately 20 school-age children,' Assistant District Attorney Timothy Collins said. 'The defendant struck an innocent bystander, a 16-year-old girl, in the head. The incident is on video. The defendant has been identified as the shooter.' The boy allegedly used a semi-automatic pistol during the early evening melee outside 800 Home Street in the Morrisania neighborhood. The building houses three schools: Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health and Science and Science Charter School, Bronx Latin and Bronx Career and College Preparatory High School. 4 Evette Jeffrey was shot and killed earlier this month. Rebecca Abad/Facebook Advertisement Investigators believe the mayhem was sparked by a feud between street gangs – the Forest Over Everything crew and an upstart gang calling itself Kreep On Davidson, based at the Davidson Houses public housing complex, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said last week. 'The victim, Evette Jeffrey, was not involved in this dispute,' Kenny said. 'She was an innocent bystander who was simply trying to take cover behind the brick wall and was struck in the head by one of the rounds.' 4 The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, and NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch hold a press gaggle at the scene, then the Mayor speaks with residents. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Relatives said Evette was celebrating her one-year anniversary with her boyfriend, also 16, at a Chinese restaurant after school and decided to stop at the playground – where she found herself in the line of fire. Advertisement 'She's forever 16,' the girl's grandma previously said. 'That's it.' Evette's grandmother couldn't bring herself to forgive the youngsters involved in the daylight violence that took her granddaughter's life. 'I don't forgive you,' she sobbed. 'I hold your family responsible because they should be watching you. Whoever handed you [the gun] or had it, I will never forgive you.'
Extra.ie
18-05-2025
- General
- Extra.ie
Two dead after Mexican Navy ship crashes into Brooklyn Bridge: What we know so far
A Mexican navy training ship which was visiting New York crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, killing two people in the early hours of Sunday morning. Two crew members aboard the Cuauhtémoc sailing ship died when the boat – heading backwards towards the bridge – continued to travel to a point of impact. Its 45-metre masts were too tall to clear the arched bridge at that point and toppled when the vessel travelled underneath the iconic US landmark. A view of the Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc being tended by the authorities after it crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan, New York. Pic: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was 'deeply saddened' by the loss of two crew members aboard the training ship. Of the total of 277 on board the vessel there were 19 with injuries, two of whom remain in critical condition in hospital. Naval cadets clad in white uniforms could be seen dangling from the ship's crossbeams following the accident. ❗️🇲🇽⚓️🇺🇲 – The Mexican Navy's tall ship ARM Cuauhtémoc, a 1982 Spanish-built barque with 277 crew members, collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City just before 9 PM. One of the ship's 150-foot masts struck the bridge, snapping and triggering a large-scale search and… Built at the Celaya Shipyards in Bilbao, Spain back in 1981, Cuauhtémoc's visit to New York was scheduled to end on Saturday evening. The South Street Seaport Museum was co-hosting the vessel's visit to the Big Apple. During its stopover in New York, the public were invited to come on board the ship. It was disembarking from New York and bound for Iceland when the accident occurred.
New York Post
14-05-2025
- New York Post
2 innocent victims injured in NYC shooting just blocks from where 16-year-old girl was killed in crossfire
Two innocent passersby were shot and wounded in the Bronx Tuesday, just blocks away and less than 24 hours after a teenage girl was killed when she rode her scooter into the crossfire of rival teen gangs, according to police and law enforcement sources. Two gunmen ran up to a group of males at the corner of East 163rd Street and Washington Avenue in Melrose and opened fire at around 4:45 p.m., police said. But the gunfire instead wounded two people in a passing car — including an 11-year-old boy. 5 Two innocent passersby were shot and wounded during a shooting while they passed by in their car in the Bronx on Tuesday. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock The boy was cut by shattered glass and a 20-year-old male driver was shot in the left shoulder, according to cops and sources. The driver was taken to Lincoln Hospital where he was listed in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the NYPD. The boy was also treated at Lincoln for minor injuries. The suspects fled on Citi Bikes following the shooting, cops said. The victim's car was one of two vehicles riddled with bullets in the chaos, according to photos from the scene. 5 Two gunmen ran up to a group of males at the corner of East 163rd Street and Washington Avenue in Melrose and opened fire at around 4:45 p.m., police said. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock 5 The gunfire wounded two people in the passing car, including an 11-year-old boy. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock A white Infiniti G37X sedan was parked beneath a tree next to a Municipal Credit Union building with a bullet hole the size of a golf ball punched through the rear window. Another sedan abandoned nearby had its rear window nearly completely blown out. There have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing, police said late Tuesday. The gun violence erupted around the corner from the Morrisania schoolyard, where 16-year-old Evette Jeffrey was shot in the head and killed while riding her scooter Monday evening. 5 The suspected shooters fled the scene on Citi Bikes. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Evette had been celebrating her one-year anniversary with her boyfriend when she was shot by a boy who opened fire following a fistfight between young alleged gangbangers. A 14-year-old boy was arrested Tuesday morning for the fatal shooting, which cops said was gang-related. Investigators are still searching for a 12-year-old accomplice who allegedly handed the baby-faced killer the gun. 5 The gun violence erupted around the corner from the Morrisania schoolyard, where 16-year-old Evette Jeffrey was shot in the head and killed while riding her scooter Monday evening. Gabriella Bass The deadly dispute between rival street gangs — Forest Over Everything and the upstart crew Kreep On Davidson based at the Davidson Houses housing project — stemmed from a scuffle earlier in the day, sources said. It was unclear late Tuesday if the two shootings were related, but sources said cops were investigating whether Tuesday's shooting was gang-related and involved teens. The Bronx has recently been plagued by gun violence that has claimed the lives of victims caught in crossfire. In late April, two innocent bystanders were gunned down in as many days. A trailblazing Harlem bodega owner and community fixture — Excenia Mette, 61 — was fatally shot in the head when she ran outside to check on her grandson. Barely a day had passed when Daoud Marji, a 28-year-old plumber's apprentice, was shot and killed in another stray bullet shooting.
