Megan Lander | Student Life Editor
May 23, 2025
The Trump administration has taken a crooked step in their management by revoking Harvard University’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), meaning that the institution is banned from enrolling international students. Earlier announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, there have been Harvard students facing accusations of maintaining ties with antisemitism and the Chinese Communist Party, allegedly disobeying the university’s federal reporting requirements. While there is limited publicly disclosed evidence, the case still drives concern and controversy for the well-being of the general public and media if these specific ideas were to spread. Junior Mia Arra made the point that “international students are what help contribute to the unique communities at universities like Harvard. If the school is having problems, the issue should be conducted on a smaller level than resorting to the government.”
After only a few hours, Trump’s decision already has immediate and complex consequences. There are currently about 6,400 international students attending Harvard whose educational careers are being jeopardized. Not only is their education in trouble, but many will face an uncertain future by being forced to transfer back to their homeland, risking their status as a legal immigrant. Junior Kiara Kernot, who can relate, has lived half of her life in Europe and Australia traveling and said that “this decision doesn’t feel right. People outside of America were taught that it was a land of opportunity and now it is being taken away.” International students of the next incoming class at Harvard will be left in a suspenseful period of time, since Harvard is required to bar any visa documentation.
Policy makers all around the world have major worries about the damage to America’s reputation. The role of education and a global leader should be the most important when choosing someone to represent a country, and with a rash decision like this to cut off the rest of the world to one of the best education sources, less money is injected into the programs, less vibrancy and diversity is within the school, and less academic power or achievements are available. Critics believe that this will undermine the immigration policies and become politically oppositional, rather than have benefits for anyone.
From the perspective of the international students, the American dream has always been idolized and woven into thoughts of going to prestigious schools like Harvard. Today, this seems more uncertain than ever. The question now becomes whether this makes a temporary political movement, or one that will change the structure of global education.
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