International students at Harvard express concerns over graduation attendance; university discloses this information in court proceedings
Thousands of international students at Harvard University find themselves in administrative limbo following the Trump administration's decision to revoke the university's ability to enroll students from abroad. According to a new court filing ahead of a major federal court hearing Thursday in Boston, the move has left some students fearful of attending their graduation ceremonies this week.
In her sworn statement filed Wednesday, Harvard's director of immigration services, Maureen Martin, has outlined the distress and disarray the university's 7,000 international students currently face. Questions from concerned students have inundated the faculty and administration, and the mental health of several international students has been affected.
Some students are apprehensive about attending their own graduation ceremonies due to the fear of immigration-related actions, while others have canceled upcoming international travel plans for academic research or family visits out of concern they might not be readmitted to the United States.
Martin's declaration in court underscores the competitive disadvantage caused by the Trump administration's recent actions against the university. Despite a judge temporarily blocking the State Department and Department of Homeland Security from rescinding Harvard's ability to host international students, the school claims that damage to its academic reputation may already be irreversible.
International students planning to come to Harvard for future semesters are reconsidering their decisions, including at least one medical school student and one law student. Moreover, at least three American students who wish to study alongside international students are also reconsidering their enrollment. Some applicants have faced issues obtaining student visas at embassies abroad in recent days.
Judge Allison Burroughs at the federal court in Boston is set to hear arguments and consider evidence on Thursday regarding the protection of Harvard's international students. This hearing marks the first major day in court in the conflict between Harvard and the Trump White House. Additionally, Harvard is challenging several other federal agency actions aimed at blocking billions of dollars in funding, primarily for health care research, arguing that President Donald Trump is targeting Harvard as part of a broader culture war.
The Trump administration argues that it is combating antisemitism at Harvard and is dissatisfied with the university's "academic rigor." However, Harvard counters that the administration's demands put at risk a quarter of the student body, who come from over 140 foreign countries to study in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The university further alleges that the Trump administration is attempting to influence choices regarding whom Harvard admits, whom it hires as faculty, its research endeavors, and what it teaches, encroaching on the university's free speech and campus autonomy.
Officials from the Trump administration have stated that Harvard is being used as an example, and other universities may face harsh actions from the administration. The state of Massachusetts has also stated its support for Harvard's arguments in court. The situation remains unresolved as Harvard continues to challenge the Trump administration's actions in court, with a preliminary injunction planned to provide a longer-term block on the administration's efforts to restrict foreign students at Harvard.
- The political climate has caused concern for international students at Harvard University, with some reconsidering their enrollment in education-and-self-development programs due to the administration's actions and fear of immigration-related issues.
- The ongoing legal battle between Harvard University and the Trump administration has extended to general news, as the court hears arguments about the protection of international students, academic research, and the university's autonomy, which is seen as a threatening influence on free speech and campus autonomy by the Trump administration.
