Gladness Gideon
Harvard University is experiencing a sharp rise in transfer inquiries from foreign students following recent immigration restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration, a senior university official revealed in a court filing on Wednesday.
Maureen Martin, Director of Immigration Services at Harvard, stated that the elite institution has been “flooded” with requests from international students seeking to transfer to other universities amid fears over their legal status and academic futures.
“Too many international students to count have inquired about the possibility of transferring to another institution,” Martin wrote, highlighting widespread concern triggered by the administration’s attempt to block Harvard from hosting foreign scholars.
The Trump administration’s recent directives have included suspending student visa processing, targeting non-citizen campus activists, and most notably, issuing a revocation notice that temporarily prevented Harvard from enrolling or hosting international students—a move currently on hold following a judicial intervention.
A federal judge last week halted the government’s action after Harvard filed a lawsuit, arguing the measure was unconstitutional. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Thursday.
According to Martin, the crackdown has caused “profound fear, concern, and confusion” among both students and faculty.
With international students comprising over 27 percent of Harvard’s 2024–25 enrollment, the restrictions have had a tangible emotional and academic impact.
READ ALSO: Harvard Sues Trump Administration Over Funding Freeze, Academic Autonomy
“Many international students and scholars are reporting significant emotional distress that is affecting their mental health and making it difficult to focus on their studies,” she said.
Some students even avoided attending graduation ceremonies or canceled travel plans due to fears of being denied re-entry into the U.S.
Martin also noted that a few domestic students have expressed intentions to transfer from Harvard, citing discomfort with the idea of studying at a university potentially stripped of its international diversity.
Despite the court’s temporary suspension of the administration’s actions, Martin reported that at least ten visa applications for Harvard students or scholars were refused or revoked—some even after prior approval. None have yet been reinstated.
As legal proceedings continue, Harvard’s international community remains in limbo, with growing anxiety about the long-term implications of U.S. immigration policy on academic freedom and global education.