Background on Key Figures and Relevance
Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, has been at the center of a controversial decision regarding international students attending prestigious institutions like Harvard University. The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, recently revoked Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students, threatening the future of thousands of international students and the valuable resources they bring to the institution.
Who is Donald Trump?
Donald Trump served as the 45th President of the United States from January 2017 to January 2021. Known for his business background and reality TV fame, Trump’s presidency was marked by contentious policies and strong opinions on various issues, including immigration.
Who is Kristi Noem?
Kristi Noem is the current Secretary of Homeland Security, appointed by President Joe Biden in April 2021. Previously, she served as the Governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2021 and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota’s At-Large District from 2017 to 2019.
The Controversy
On Thursday, Secretary Noem revoked Harvard’s authority to enroll foreign students, jeopardizing the futures of thousands of international students and the financial contributions they make to the university.
Previous Threats by Kristi Noem
In the preceding month, Noem had threatened to block international students unless Harvard provided records of “illegal and violent activities” by visa holders. This move was seen as an attempt to exert pressure on universities to comply with the administration’s demands.
Harvard’s Legal Challenge
Harvard responded by filing a lawsuit against the administration’s decision. Judge Allison Burroughs of the federal court in Massachusetts issued a temporary restraining order on Friday, prohibiting the Trump administration from implementing the revocation of Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) certification.
The court order is in effect until a preliminary hearing on May 29.
Impact on Harvard Students
More than a quarter of Harvard’s students are international, with 162 Nobel laureates among its alumni. The university has been targeted by the Trump administration for refusing to submit to oversight in admissions and hiring practices.
Government Actions Against Universities
The current administration, under President Joe Biden, has taken various measures against U.S. universities, citing concerns about rampant antisemitism and the need to reverse diversity programs addressing historical oppression of minorities.
- Financial Penalties: The Trump administration had threatened to review $9 billion in government funding for universities, froze $2.2 billion in grants, and $60 million in official contracts.
- Deportation of Researchers: A researcher from Harvard’s School of Medicine was deported, highlighting the administration’s aggressive stance on immigration.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Donald Trump’s stance on Harvard’s foreign student policy? Trump defended the administration’s decision to ban foreign students from Harvard, questioning why these countries, some of which are not friendly to the U.S., do not pay for their students’ education and have no intention of doing so.
- Why is Trump demanding transparency from Harvard? Trump argues that, despite receiving millions of dollars in funding from the government, Harvard should be more transparent about its international students and their activities.
- What legal action has Harvard taken against the administration’s decision? Harvard filed a lawsuit and obtained a temporary restraining order from Judge Allison Burroughs, halting the implementation of the SEVIS certification revocation.
