“Admission into the United States to attend, conduct research, or teach at our Nation’s institutions of higher education is a privilege granted by our Government, not a guarantee. That privilege is necessarily tied to the host institution’s compliance and commitment to following Federal law.”  

DONALD J. TRUMP

Simple Vishwakarma mumbai

In a turn of events that has drawn international scrutiny and domestic legal resistance, U.S. President Donald Trump has made contradictory statements about international students, welcoming them in principle but signing an executive order that effectively blocks many from attending Harvard University.

Executive order shuts doors

On June 4, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order suspending the entry of foreign nationals coming to the United States primarily to study at Harvard University. The directive halts new F, M, and J visa issuance for Harvard-bound students, citing national security concerns and the university’s alleged refusal to provide the government with a list of its international students.

“Considering these facts, I have determined that it is necessary to restrict the entry of foreign nationals who seek to enter the United States solely or principally to participate in a course of study at Harvard University,” the President’s order read.

The move comes in the midst of an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and the Ivy League institution. The White House had earlier frozen $2.5 million in federal research funding to Harvard and threatened to block over $450 million more unless the university complied with data-sharing demands. Just a day after the ban, President Trump appeared to reverse tone during a press interaction in the Oval Office. “We want to have foreign students come. It’s our honour to have them, frankly,” he told reporters.

However, he quickly added a condition: “We want them to be checked... the case of Harvard and Columbia and others. All we want to do is see their list. There’s no problem with that.” He emphasised that the administration's concern was not with foreign students as a whole but with the lack of transparency from elite institutions like Harvard. “We’re very honoured by it [foreign student enrolment], but we want to see their list. Harvard didn’t want to give us the list. They’re going to be giving us the list now,” Trump added.

Adding to that, President Trump remarked on Thursday that Harvard had begun to comply with the administration’s demands. “I think they’re starting to behave, actually, if you want to know the truth,” he said during a follow-up media briefing. The president reiterated that the goal was not to exclude international students entirely but to vet them more closely, especially those enrolling in sensitive programs.

Education experts and students are unsettled

The mixed messaging has left education experts and students worldwide unsettled. Ankita Thakker, CEO of Education Street, observed a growing sense of disillusionment among Indian students:

“Several students and parents, because of this hazy and uncertain time, are dropping their plans to study in the USA for this year. Trump’s attack on Harvard is seen as a direct blow on students who wish to study in America genuinely and grow in their careers.”

She added that even the temporary halt in F-1 visa appointments in India has left many in limbo, “The concern Trump raised on universities not checking students is completely baseless. The U.S. admission process is already lengthy and highly vetted. So not sure what message this sends to education seekers here. However, I’m hopeful—because Indian students are woven deeply into the U.S. academic ecosystem, we will survive this blockage. To all U.S. aspirants: wait and hold on. The storm will pass; clear skies are ahead.”

Adding to the sentiment, Akshay Chaturvedi, Founder & CEO of Leverage Edu, offered advice on social media, “We said this out loud to most publications we interacted with over the last 10 days. My strong advice to students has been: focus on studies, work hard, and enjoy your time there. Yes, your opinion matters, but if America in all its design and glory isn't okay with protest, no other place is going to be either.” He reminded students of their core purpose, “We are students. We care about learning. We build character through these important years.

We want to build lives our families can be proud of. So let’s focus and get moving.” Meanwhile, the executive order has already run into legal resistance. A federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked its implementation, allowing Harvard to continue admitting international students until further judicial review. The court’s interim ruling came after Harvard, joined by civil liberties groups and academic coalitions, challenged the ban’s legality and its potential to damage the country’s global reputation for higher education.