Harvard, one of the wealthiest and most prestigious schools in the world, finds itself in a tussle with the US President Donald Trump. With the President signing an executive order on June 4, 2025, the entry of international community members at Harvard has been suspended for six months, effective from June 9, 2025, onwards.
Harvard has been welcoming foreign students since the 17th century, and as of today, more than 6000 students from 150 different countries call Harvard their home. However, with the recent announcement of the ban, foreign students and staff face an uncertain future. However, the university and other academic institutions have shown their strong support to their global community by taking legal action against the order and fighting it in courts.
Even the President of Harvard University, Alan Garber, had made his stance loud and clear through the opening remarks of his speech at the University’s 374th Commencement, “Welcome, guests from down the street, across the country, and around the world”. He even emphasised the Ivy League School’s diversity by further saying, “Around the world, just as it should be.”
But what led to the ban of the students and staff at Harvard? Why is Mr. Trump behaving irrationally? What is the perspective of the students and other stakeholders? Let’s try to understand the key factors.
Roots of the Fallout – Pandemic Era Battle
The first clash between the two parties happened in July 2020 during the COVID-19 era. The Trump administration had announced that international students would be forced to leave the country if their university was to conduct online classes.
This decision met with criticism as it threatened the legal status of thousands of students and would also jeopardise their academic progress. Harvard was quick to file a lawsuit that challenged the government’s decision. Although the administration rescinded the policy within a week of its introduction, it cemented distrust and hostility between the elite universities and the government.
Stance on Immigration
Since his first term in 2017, the Trump administration has pursued the travel ban aggressively. With the “Muslim ban” – which targeted the ban on travel of several Muslim majority countries to the USA, the country did not stop there.
The administration went on to tighten its immigration policies by introducing changes in the student visas, asylum visas, and employment-based visas. The F-1 visa program, which allows foreign students to study in the US, also came under scrutiny. The government proposed shortening the duration of the visas and imposing restrictions on post-graduation work opportunities through Optional Practical Training.
For Harvard, this move means to limit their foreign students’ entry into the country, by portraying these students as an economic as well as a political threat to the USA.
“Make America Great Again” by prioritising Americans.
It seems that the President is willing to take any step to make his country ‘great’ again, whether it be by introducing tariffs, threatening businesses, or introducing his “big beautiful bill”. Donald Trump has been quite vocal about protecting his citizens and their jobs, so much so that he has even claimed that foreign students take up the seats that were actually meant for Americans.
However, the job market tells a different story. The international students have contributed significantly to the American economy, and are in fact working towards fulfilling Trump’s goal of MAGA, aka, Make America Great Again.
National Security Concerns
China has consistently been the largest country to send its students to Harvard. Around 1000 to 1200 students, which is roughly 15% of the international student body, are a part of the coveted institute. The Trump Administration, however, suspects that these students are rather serving as spies for their country. With relations already bitter with China, the students have been caught in the crossfire.
Moreover, the fact that Harvard, which is also known for its global partnerships with other institutes across the globe, has also been scrutinised. Students from countries like Russia and Iran are also under suspicion by the Trump administration for misusing the US technology and research.
Tussle With Harvard
Even before the introduction of the foreign students ban, no love was lost between Harvard and the Trump administration. The Massachusetts-based institute had always been an outspoken critic of Trump’s immigration policies and of his withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.
This vocal opposition led to the White House’s growing resentment towards Harvard and other elite academic institutions. Moreover, reports of Trump’s inner circle viewing Harvard as a “liberal academic elite” had also appeared in the media. They regarded the institute “hostile” towards the government’s agenda, while other officials felt that targeting Harvard specifically was a “golden opportunity” for the Trump Administration to serve as a lesson for other institutes that didn’t align with his school of thought.
Students’ Voice
With the ongoing tensions and the fear of leaving classes mid-way, the international students have years of sacrifice and efforts now hanging by a thread.
Ravi Kumar, a second-year MBA student from India, shared his ordeal, “I invested years of my life and thousands of dollars to be here. Now I feel discarded.”
Echoing the same sentiment, another student from Columbia, Maria Gonzalez, a doctoral student in public health, said, “My research on pandemic response could literally save lives. This policy makes no sense.”
Many foreign students like Ravi and Maria are now uncertain about their future. Nevertheless, the alumni network and the Harvard faculty, as well as the President, are working hard to save their university’s distinguished diversity and name.
What’s Next?
As of June 6, by the order of the US judge Allison Burroughs, a temporary restraining order has been issued, which restricts the Trump administration’s ban. This order comes after the world’s wealthiest university had filed a lawsuit against the administration, accusing them of starting a “government vendetta” to restrict their right to free speech.
While the war continues between education and politics, one must not forget that the careers of thousands of students are at stake. It is given that Harvard and its allies will do everything in their power to preserve and protect the legacy of the institutes. But it's time to tell when the US President, Mr. Donald Trump, will take a step back and rethink his decisions and policies.