Harvard Foreign Students Stuck In Uncertainty, US Court Steps In

JAKARTA - President Donald Trump's policy of revoking Harvard University's right to accept students from abroad since Thursday, May 22, immediately sparked a wave of worry and confusion among international students.

The day after the policy announcement, a US judge temporarily blocked Trump's administration, hours after Harvard filed a lawsuit in Boston federal court. However, the future of thousands of Harvard international students remains unclear.

This situation continues to grow, and Harvard international students and universities around the world await further developments.

Harvard currently has nearly 7,000 international students or about 27 percent of its total students, facing serious threats to the sustainability of their education. Michael Gritzbach, a German student who is taking a master's degree in public administration, described the situation as a "dmire that turns out to be a nightmare."

"Many of us have been saving for years or getting scholarships. Even victory in court doesn't guarantee we can continue our studies at Harvard," Gritzbach told Reuters.

Meanwhile, a British student received at Harvard Graduate School of Education for the master program scheduled for September, expressed similar concerns.

"We feel there is nothing we can do right now. If I keep going to Harvard, I'm afraid I won't be able to speak openly. This atmosphere is worrying, especially in a campus environment that should celebrate the exchange of ideas," he said.

Postponement Of Visa And Alternative Universitas

Prior to US court intervention on Friday, international students reported delays in their US visa filings. A student was even notified by visa interview officers that their app was being held for "administrative processing" which could take up to 60 days.

Abdullah Shahid Sida, a student from Pakistan and one of the leaders of a Harvard student body, stated that several students had started looking for alternative universities. "We are working with university administration to help students who want or are forced to move to other universities, both inside and outside the United States," he said.

Universities in the UK, such as members of Russell Group, as well as institutions in Switzerland and Ireland, are expected to receive a surge in applications from Harvard students. Corinne Feuz, a spokesman for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, said, "The latest steps towards Harvard University could change the situation and allow us to welcome the best students globally."

International Impact

This decision has an impact not only on students from European countries, but also Canada and Belgium. Cleo Carney, daughter of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, who is the heir to the throne, are among the threatened Harvard students.

"The impact of this decision will only be clearly seen in the coming days or weeks. We are investigating the situation," said Lore Vandoorne, a spokesman for the Belgian Palace.

The Dutch government also expressed their concern. A spokesman for the Dutch Education Minister said, "This would be a very serious problem if students were forced to stop their studies." The Dutch government is currently communicating with the US side.