Indian Students in Harvard Caught in Limbo

The fate of hundreds of Indian students in the United States is hanging in the balance after the government there barred Harvard University from having foreign students. This is part of an escalation by Donald Trump, the country’s president, to make the university fall in line. Harvard was accused by his administration of allowing antisemitism on its campus and asked to make changes to its governance. The university wrote back saying the demands were unreasonable and they couldn’t comply. The government stopped federal grants. A number of enquiries by different departments have been launched. The present move is the latest salvo using regulations of the Department of Homeland Security that require information of foreign students to be furnished to them.

DHS head Kristi Noem accused Harvard of not adhering to rules and posted on X, ‘They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law.’ She gave Harvard 72 hours to give the information if they wanted the ban revoked. They would have to give particulars, including video recordings, about violent and criminal activities of foreign students. Threats made by them to other students were also to be furnished. If they took part in protests, those materials also needed to be turned over. Harvard perceives it as an attempt to go after students who took part in anti-Israel agitations on campus.

With the current ban, foreign students are floundering about what to do. If they don’t immediately transfer to another university, they would lose their visa status and have to return. Harvard is expected to move the judiciary and seek a stay. Until then, the 788 Indian students there will be on tenterhooks about their future.

 

Donald TrumpHarvardIndian studentsKristi NoemUS Visa