U.S PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP
In a dramatic escalation of its crackdown on foreign students, the U.S. government has suspended all student visa processing, following a wave of protests at Harvard University opposing recent federal funding cuts and policy changes.
The directive, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, instructs American embassies and consulates worldwide to pause all new appointments for student and exchange visas until further notice. The order comes amidst growing tensions between the White House and elite academic institutions, particularly Harvard, over their stance on international students and the Israel-Gaza conflict.
According to official sources, the Trump administration has revoked hundreds of student visas and is actively deporting foreign students involved in anti-war protests, alleging ties to Hamas, a claim protesters strongly deny.
This latest move comes as President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to force Harvard to comply with federal oversight, cutting nearly $100 million in remaining government contracts with the university. The administration has also taken steps to bar Harvard from enrolling non-U.S. citizens, effectively suspending its ability to sponsor student and exchange visitor visas.
At the heart of the controversy is a series of protests by students and alumni denouncing what they see as authoritarian policies. Demonstrators rallied on Harvard’s campus Tuesday, chanting slogans like “Let them stay,” in reference to international students now facing potential deportation or forced transfers to other institutions. One protester held a sign calling Trump a “traitor.”
While the protests unfolded on campus lawns ahead of the university’s graduation ceremony, news helicopters circled overhead and guests enjoyed receptions nearby, underscoring the surreal backdrop of political turmoil amid academic celebration.
Students, including many set to graduate, voiced deep concerns about their future. “Everyone I know who’s international is suddenly unsure if they can finish their education or continue their research,” said Alice Goyer, attending the protest in academic regalia.
British student Jack, set to graduate from Harvard’s history of medicine program, expressed doubts about returning to the U.S. for future studies: “With policies like this, I don’t know if I’d want to commit six years to a PhD here.”
Meanwhile, Trump administration officials doubled down on their position, suggesting public funds should be diverted from elite schools to vocational programs that emphasize “American values.” Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News, “We need more plumbers and fewer LGBTQ graduate majors from Harvard.”
The university has already taken legal action to block the revocation of its visa sponsorship rights and restore frozen federal grants, which reportedly amount to billions of dollars. Legal scholars suggest Harvard has a strong case, with courts likely to intervene.
A separate lawsuit by alumni is expected to be filed on June 9, according to activist and filmmaker Anurima Bhargava during a virtual meeting hosted by Crimson Courage, an alumni-led group mobilizing support and funds for legal resistance.
Despite multiple legal challenges, Trump remains defiant, describing foreign students at Harvard as “radicalized troublemakers” in a public statement earlier this week.
As the battle between academia and the federal government intensifies, the future of thousands of international students in the U.S. hangs in the balance.
