Harvard recently informed its international students that three students and two recent graduates had their visas revoked. This decision is linked to the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to deport international students involved in pro-Palestine protests. The university discovered this change during a regular review of their records.
The Harvard International Office (HIO) did not disclose the names of those affected due to privacy policies. They mentioned in an email that there has been a wave of similar visa revocations across many universities in the country. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, over 300 visas have been canceled recently. This situation raises concerns about legal residency for many, as some students have had their status stripped away without prior notification, forcing them to leave the U.S. immediately.
This issue isn’t isolated to Harvard. At Tufts University, a Ph.D. student, Rumeysa Ozturk, faced similar consequences after writing a pro-Palestine article and getting arrested by ICE. Furthermore, the University of Massachusetts Amherst also reported that five international students lost their visas recently.
Interestingly, some visa revocations have occurred for reasons unrelated to activism, including minor offenses like traffic violations. Many students fear that expressing their views could lead to serious implications for their academic pursuits and lives in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has actively targeted individuals engaged in pro-Palestine activism, further complicating the lives of many international students. In February, a researcher at Harvard Medical School, Kseniia Petrova, had her visa revoked for allegedly failing to declare frog embryos she brought into the country and is currently detained in Louisiana.
Amidst the uncertainty, the HIO emphasized Harvard’s commitment to supporting its international community. They highlighted the invaluable contributions these students bring to the university, fostering a diverse and innovative educational environment.
As these tensions rise, many students are voicing their concerns on social media, sharing their experiences and rallying support for each other. Conversations around this topic reflect broader societal debates on free speech, immigration policies, and political activism.
For more detailed statistics on the impact of U.S. immigration policies on international students, you can refer to a Pew Research Center study which explores these issues further.