President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on June 4 to block new international students' admission to Harvard University by impeding the issuance of the visas they use to enter the country. The ban will last for six months, unless extended. It also invites the Secretary of State to consider withdrawing the visas of current students. This new escalation comes after a federal judge blocked the last attempt by the administration to deny entry to international students. A Harvard University spokesperson has already declared that the university will continue to “protect its international students.”
This latest move by the Trump administration comes amid a war the president has declared on Ivy League institutions. Critics have pointed out that this measure could place academic independence and freedom of speech under serious and unprecedented risk.
For context, international students make up 27% of the student body at Harvard University, and, in total, the United States hosts one million international students throughout the country. This brings billions of dollars into the American economy through the fortification of the country’s technology and science sectors in particular.
Who are the students subjected to this massive crackdown? What is the impact on these international students, the institutions that host them, and the American economy? Click on to find out.