The Trump-led U.S. government has stopped Harvard University from accepting Nigerian and other international students. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Harvard is no longer allowed to enroll foreign students. Those who are already studying there including many Nigerian students, must transfer or risk losing their visas.
This happened after a long fight between Harvard and the Trump government. The government wanted Harvard to check professors for copying work and report international students for any bad behavior, even small ones. They also told the school to remove its DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs. Harvard said no.
In response, the government froze over $2 billion in federal grants last month. Earlier this month, they also warned Harvard that future research funding could be cut off. Now, with this latest move, international students are left in a difficult situation.
Karl Molden, a student from Austria, said the decision has created a lot of fear and confusion. He shared that many international students have worked hard for years just to study at Harvard, and now they don’t know what will happen to them. He believes students like him are being dragged into a bigger political fight.
Harvard has strongly rejected the government’s decision and called it unfair. The university said it’s doing everything possible to support its international students and staff. In their words, this action could seriously hurt Harvard’s community, its mission, and the country as a whole.
Professor Jason Furman
Professor Jason Furman, who teaches economics at Harvard and once worked in the Obama administration, also criticized the move. He said international students bring huge value to the university and the country. He believes banning them harms America’s global image and weakens one of its strongest tools — higher education.
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