Indonesian Representatives Ready To Help 87 Indonesian Students At Harvard Regarding President Trump's Foreign Student Policy

Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Roy Soemirat. (Indonesian/Abi Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is following the development of the policy of the United States President Donald Trump's administration regarding foreign students and is ready to help 87 students from Indonesia at Harvard University.

President Trump last week decided to revoke the permit for foreign student admissions by Harvard University. It forced them to move to another campus or lose their legal status.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to closely monitor the development of US immigration policies, including the prohibition against Harvard University from accepting foreign students," said spokesman for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rolliansyah Soemirat in a statement to reporters, Tuesday, May 27.

"This policy has created uncertainty for the fate of international students from various countries studying at Harvard University, including 87 students from Indonesia," he continued.

Following the policy of President Trump's Administration, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem ordered the department to stop certification of Harvard University Student and Student Exchange Programs applicable for the 2025-2026 school year.

Reporting from Reuters on Friday, May 23, Minister Noem accused the university of "provoking violence, antisemitism, and communicating with the Chinese Communist Party."

In response to the government's decision, Harvard said the actions taken by the Trump administration were illegal and a form of retaliation.

The move came after Harvard refused to provide Noem's requested information about several foreign student visa holders at Harvard.

Harvard University sued Donald Trump's administration on Friday for its decision to revoke the Ivy League campus permit to accept foreign students.

In a lawsuit filed in Boston's federal court, the US, Harvard called blocking foreign students a "significant violation" against the US Constitution and other federal laws.

"With the scratch of a pen, the government has tried to remove a quarter of Harvard students, international students who contributed significantly to the University and its mission," Harvard said in a statement last week.

"Without his international students, Harvard is not Harvard," continued the 389-year-old campus statement.

Harvard asked federal judges to block the revocation of the permit to accept the foreign student on the grounds of "direct and irreparable losses caused by this unlawful act."

"While waiting for the legal lawsuit process by Harvard University, Indonesian Representatives in the United States have established intensive communication with Indonesian students at Harvard University and urged them to remain calm," said Roy, Rolliansyah Soemirat's nickname.

"Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia in the US are ready to provide consular assistance to Indonesian students who are affected," he said.

Harvard registered nearly 6,800 international students in the 2024-2025 school year, which is 27% of its total registration, according to university statistics.

In 2022, Chinese citizens are the largest foreign student group, with 1,016, according to university data.

After that, there were students from Canada, India, South Korea, England, Germany, Australia, Singapore, and Japan.

"It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to accept foreign students and benefit from higher tuition fees to help add to their billions of dollars worth of endowment funds," Minister Noem said.

In his letter to the university, Minister Noem gave Harvard "the opportunity" to regain his certification by handing over a large number of records about foreign students within 72 hours, including videos or audio of their protest activities in the last five years.