Harvard foreign student ban: Why the US blocked it & who's affected
The US government has stopped Harvard University from admitting new international students. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the decision, which impacts around 6,800 foreign students already studying at the university. Each year, 500–800 Indian students join Harvard, and currently, there are 788 enrolled.
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Read more: Prominent Indians who studied at Harvard
Foreign students already at Harvard may need to transfer to another approved university or risk losing their legal status. The DHS accused Harvard of failing to provide required records and said the university was fostering a campus climate unsafe for Jewish students and supportive of pro-Hamas views.
Students set to graduate this semester can still do so. However, starting from the 2025–26 academic year, Harvard won’t be able to support new or continuing international students unless the ban is reversed. The university could regain its status if it submits specific records within 72 hours.
The US controls who can get student visas through a program called the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Without it, Harvard can’t help foreign students get visas, even if it accepts them.
The move follows Harvard's refusal to follow federal orders to limit pro-Palestinian protests and dismantle diversity programs. In response, the US has frozen over $2.6 billion in research funds. Trump has also called for removing Harvard’s tax-exempt status, which could hurt its funding.
This decision may affect more than just Harvard. The DHS has warned other universities to change their policies or face similar actions. Meanwhile, thousands of foreign students are left in limbo, and Massachusetts could lose the economic and research contributions these students bring.
