Harvard University has experienced a significant increase in requests from international students seeking to transfer to other institutions following measures introduced by the Trump administration aimed at restricting foreign scholars' presence in the United States.
Maureen Martin, director of immigration services at Harvard, revealed in a recent court filing that the university has been overwhelmed with inquiries regarding transfer options. These developments come amid President Donald Trump's intensified efforts to curb the presence of foreign students and academics at U.S. universities, which he perceives as obstacles to his "Make America Great Again" agenda.
Trump’s administration had attempted to bar Harvard from hosting international scholars, a move that has faced legal challenges. Additionally, the administration targeted non-citizen campus activists for deportation and imposed a suspension on student visa processing nationwide. Such actions have generated widespread anxiety among the university community.
According to Harvard’s data for the 2024-25 academic year, over 27 percent of its student body is international. Martin highlighted that many foreign students are confronting significant emotional distress, adversely impacting their mental health and academic focus. Concerns regarding visa security have led some students to forgo attending graduation ceremonies and cancel travel plans over fears of being denied re-entry into the U.S.
Intriguingly, Martin also noted that some domestic students at Harvard have shown interest in transferring due to the diminishing international student population.
Following a lawsuit filed by Harvard challenging the administration’s ban as unconstitutional, a federal judge temporarily suspended the enforcement of the policy stopping the university from enrolling international students. A court hearing on the issue was scheduled shortly thereafter.
The filing disclosed that at least ten foreign students or scholars had their visa applications denied immediately after the enforcement of the ban, including some whose visas had previously been approved. Despite the judicial suspension, these denials have yet to be overturned or reinstated.
