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Trump tried to block international students from Harvard — here’s how 1,400 readers reacted
“The Trump administration is waging economic and cultural war against Massachusetts,” one respondent said.
Harvard University sued the Trump administration’s decision to block foreign students from enrolling, arguing that the move is an unconstitutional act against the university’s refusal to comply with the administration’s demands.
In a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Boston, Harvard said the government’s actions violate the First Amendment and will have an “immediate and devastating” impact on both the university and its international student body, which includes more than 7,000 visa holders.
“With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission,” Harvard said in its suit. “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”
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A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from barring the university from enrolling international students, granting Harvard’s temporary restraining order to halt the decision.
Harvard argues Trump’s decision to bar the university from enrolling international students places the institution at a competitive disadvantage in attracting the world’s top talent, and could hinder students from applying in the future “out of fear of further reprisals from the government,” the suit warns.
Indeed, the potential ban would have a long-lasting impact on the university and its international student body. If the ban stands, Harvard faces the prospect of being unable to admit any new international students for at least the next two academic years. The university explained that schools whose certification is revoked by the federal government are ineligible to reapply until at least a year after the revocation.
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Harvard enrolls nearly 6,800 international students at its Cambridge campus, most of whom are graduate students from over 100 countries around the world.
The Trump administration announced the ban on Thursday, alleging that Harvard has fostered an unsafe environment on campus by permitting “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” to attack Jewish students.
In response to the administration’s decision, many Boston.com readers voiced discontent with the move, with a majority of more than 1,400 respondents expressing disagreement.
“The Trump administration is waging economic and cultural war against Massachusetts,” said Trey H. from Arlington.
Others reflected on the broader implications the decision signifies, with Jason C. from Cambridge noting, “It will limit the cultural richness of the area. Worse, this is authoritarianism in our own backyard. This has absolutely zero to do with making Harvard or the world more tolerant or more savvy about fighting antisemitism.”
George M. from Framingham added, “This means that the government now controls education and the free exchange of ideas and values. This is a disaster for Boston/Cambridge and education nationwide.”
Below, readers share why they disagree with Trump’s decision to bar Harvard from enrolling international students, and how they think it will affect Boston, Cambridge, and beyond.
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Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
The Trump administration barred Harvard from enrolling international students. Do you agree with the move?
No, I disagree
“I think it will definitely have an adverse affect on the Boston/Cambridge area. Boston is a diverse community which is enhanced by the presence of foreign students. The administration has no legal right to interfere with Harvard’s admission process. This entire thing has turned into some spiteful scenario perpetrated by a man who’s proving what an ineffective leader he truly is.” – Michelle V., Scituate
“Like every Trump decision so far, this will have long-term negative economic and cultural results. Local tech employers will lose a valuable resource of new hires, and the diversity that Cambridge is known for will be lessened. This has nothing to do with antisemitism. It’s a malignant narcissist trying to gain control of an institution he despises and is jealous of.” – Wayne M., Brookfield
“It would be devastating for Massachusetts and for those students who wish to study here. The foreign students are such an integral part of the community and the culture. They enrich the community. Not to mention the Trump regime’s desire to shut down everything and everyone that doesn’t agree with them or elevate them. They are trying to destroy our country and we simply can’t let them.” – Coleen M., Cape Ann
“This does not affect just Boston/Cambridge, but the entire academia in the country. The message is to ‘obey’ this administration or … No more academic freedom, no more freedom of speech, no more freedom of public gathering.” – Diane, Arlington
“If Harvard caves in to Trump with its resources, the rest of the country’s colleges stand no chance. The antisemitism rhetoric is unfounded and being weaponized as a way to extort power unlawfully over our post-secondary educational system. He wants to control everything and bully others to get what he wants.” – Michael D., Mattapan
“Targeting private institutions by leveraging the machinery of the state specifically against them is a clear violation of the First Amendment protections.” – Phil, Holliston
“On what principle was this decision made? If Harvard can’t enroll international students, why can UMass, MIT, or Tufts? There is no operating principle except to inflict maximum pain on Harvard ‘elites.’ I work with those Harvard ‘elites’ as a scientist, and many are from lower or middle class backgrounds (both international and domestic). They are focused on attaining and sharing knowledge and the betterment of society through research.” – Max R., Somerville
“Education and immigration are two of the things that make the United States a leader in the world. Our competitive advantage is our liberal arts education and having the best and brightest wanting to be in our country. That diversity of ideas and individuals powers innovation, enlightenment, and empowerment. To attack Harvard is to attack our competitive advantage and our freedoms. To attack immigrants is attacking ourselves and the fuel of that innovation.” – Jeff G., Concord
“Preventing international students from attending Harvard will just send some of the world’s smartest students elsewhere. The country has benefitted from being an academic destination, and that loss would hurt the entire country. It’s purely intended to hurt Harvard and other higher colleges and universities in the area that don’t agree to bend the knee to the administration, and I hope that Harvard and other schools continue to push back against this kind of bullying behavior.” – Patrick, Scituate
Yes, I agree
“They are guests in our country and that is a privilege. Therefore behave as such.” – Mike, Hyde Park
“International students, like all students, are at Harvard to learn. Any actions that threaten other students are incompatible with learning and should be disallowed, and those students sent home wherever that may be.” – John P., Sudbury
“Student visas have been abused for years. They are here as guests of the USA. If the student visa holders are instigating or participating in violent/ threatening behavior, and if the University takes no action, their privilege should be revoked.” – Pete, Newburyport
“Nothing will change from an economic perspective! The Boston economy is quite robust and spreads well in different sectors. But, Harvard needs a nice lesson. They think playing politics and being a vanguard of wokeism has no cost. Now, they will learn something, I hope. Or else, they are doomed.” – John M., Provincetown
“I don’t have anything against international students, but Trump is rightly doing whatever is necessary to get these schools to take accountability and finally reform.” – Mike S., Somerville
“Because it’s time to reign in institutions in the United States that take our tax dollars and do not put America first.” – Dab. G., Southie
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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