US President Donald Trump took a big decision and banned the admission of international students to Harvard University. The Trump administration’s Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem has ordered the department to terminate Harvard’s student and exchange visitor program credentials. After this order, Harvard will no longer be able to admit international students and foreign students who are already studying there will either have to transfer or they will lose their legal status.
Noem made serious accusations against Harvard behind his decision. He said that Harvard’s campus had “become a hotbed of violence, anti-Semitism and collaboration with the Chinese Communist Party.” Noem had warned Harvard in April that his credentials could only remain if he complied with US immigration laws. The Trump administration has also taken strict action against international students protesting against the Gaza war. The visas of many such students have been canceled and they have been expelled from the country. It is alleged that these students are supporting the terrorist organization Hamas.
Harvard says ‘illegal and retaliatory action’
Harvard University described the Trump administration’s order as “unlawful and retaliatory.” The university issued a statement saying that this decision threatens to cause serious damage to the institution. Harvard reiterated its commitment, saying, “We are fully committed to hosting international students and scholars from more than 140 countries and maintaining our ability to enrich the university.” According to the university, this government action undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.
Cutbacks in federal grants have also been made before
This is not the first time that the Trump administration has tightened the screws on Harvard. Last March-April, the Trump administration cut Harvard’s additional funding by $2.2 billion (approximately Rs. 18,729 crore) and in mid-May by $450 million (approximately Rs. 3,831 crore). At the time of the cuts in May, the federal government made clear in a letter to Harvard that Harvard had become a bastion of discrimination and discrimination and that it would have to fight hard to regain its legacy of academic excellence.
The emphasis was on anti-Semitism and demonstrations
Accusing the university of inciting anti-Jewish sentiment and demonstrating in support of the Palestinians, the Trump administration has asked Harvard to make sweeping changes to its administration, revise admissions policies and conduct audits of faculty and students. At the same time, President Trump also threatened to end Harvard’s tax exemption and recognition of foreign students.
788 students from India at Harvard
Founded in 1636, Harvard University is America’s oldest institution of higher learning. In the last academic session, 30 percent of Harvard’s approximately 22,000 full-time enrollments were foreign students. India has the largest number of students after China and Canada. About 788 Indian students and researchers are studying at Harvard in the academic year 2024-25, of which 321 students were enrolled in the same year. Students from more than 125 countries are studying at Harvard.