US Suspends Student Visa Processing Amid Crackdown on Foreign Students and Harvard Protests

The United States has suspended the processing of student visas in a dramatic move that underscores the Trump administration’s escalating clampdown on foreign students and elite academic institutions, particularly Harvard University.

The decision, ordered by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, comes amid growing protests against the war in Gaza and accusations that some international students are supporting Hamas, a group the US classifies as a terrorist organization. The measure is the latest development in what many are calling a politicized attack on academic freedom and immigration.

Visa Suspension Sparks Nationwide Outrage

According to a cable signed by Rubio and obtained by AFP, US embassies and consulates worldwide have been instructed to suspend all student and exchange visa appointments “until further guidance is issued.” This follows earlier actions by Rubio to rescind hundreds of student visas, which primarily targeted foreign nationals involved in recent pro-Palestinian protests.

The White House has also announced plans to enhance scrutiny of international students’ social media profiles as part of the visa application process. These efforts, officials claim, are designed to ensure national security and promote what they refer to as “American values.”

Harvard in the Crosshairs of Trump’s Agenda

At the center of this sweeping crackdown is Harvard University, which is facing unprecedented pressure from the federal government. President Donald Trump’s administration has revoked Harvard’s accreditation to host foreign students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), affecting nearly 27% of its student body.

Additionally, the administration announced the termination of federal contracts with Harvard worth over $100 million, citing concerns about anti-American sentiment and alleged anti-Semitism on campus.

Protests erupted on Harvard’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as hundreds of students voiced opposition to the visa cancellations and funding cuts. Protesters carried placards with slogans like “Trump = Traitor” and “Who belongs in class today? Let them stay.”

One demonstrator, Alice Goyer, clad in her graduation gown, decried the administration’s actions, stating, “All my international friends, peers, professors, and researchers are being threatened with deportation.”

Legal Showdown Looms

Harvard has already launched multiple legal challenges against the federal government’s punitive measures. A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order, pausing implementation of the visa ban and the funding cuts, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday, coinciding with Harvard’s commencement ceremony.

Legal experts believe the university has a strong case. Ray Brescia, a professor at Albany Law School, commented, “The courts are unlikely to allow this to stand. The administration’s legal arguments are deeply flawed and appear politically motivated.”

Meanwhile, Crimson Courage, a Harvard alumni group, has organized a mass virtual meeting and announced plans to file a separate lawsuit against the Trump administration on June 9.

Students Consider Leaving the US

The suspension of student visas and the broader uncertainty surrounding immigration policy have already prompted some international students to reconsider their future in the US. A British graduating student, who gave his name only as Jack, remarked, “I don’t know if I’d pursue a PhD here. Six years is a long time to spend in a country where your legal status can be revoked overnight.”

The situation has left many feeling unwelcome and unsafe, with concerns that this crackdown could tarnish the global reputation of American higher education.

White House Defends the Measures

In defense of the new policies, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared on Fox News, asserting that taxpayer dollars should support vocational training programs over liberal arts education.

“We need more electricians and plumbers in this country, not LGBTQ graduate majors from Harvard University,” she said.

Leavitt further argued that the administration’s strategy would redirect resources toward “schools that promote American values and produce graduates with skills that our economy and society actually need.”

Conclusion: Academic Freedom in Peril?

This latest move to suspend student visa processing is part of a broader ideological campaign waged by the Trump administration against institutions perceived as bastions of liberal thought. While the legal battles are ongoing, the impact is already being felt across campuses as universities, students, and legal experts rally against what they see as an attack on academic freedom, immigration, and the internationalization of American higher education.

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