Harvard Slams Trump's Student Ban "Illegal Retaliation!"

Harvard Denounces Trump's Foreign Student Ban as "Illegal Retaliatory Step"

Harvard University has strongly condemned President Trump's recent proclamation barring foreign students from attending the institution, labeling it "another illegal retaliatory step." The move has ignited a firestorm of controversy, raising serious questions about the future of international education in the United States.

In a strongly worded statement, Harvard asserted that the proclamation violates the university's First Amendment rights. "This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the administration in violation of Harvard's First Amendment rights," the statement read. "Harvard will continue to protect its international students."

President Trump signed the proclamation on Wednesday, invoking the Immigration and Nationality Act to justify the ban. The proclamation prohibits noncitizens from entering the U.S. to study at Harvard for at least six months. Trump argued that Harvard is "no longer a trustworthy steward" of international students.

The proclamation also directs the Secretary of State to consider revoking the visas of foreign students already studying at Harvard.

According to the proclamation: "I have determined that the entry of the class of foreign nationals described above is detrimental to the interests of the United States because, in my judgment, Harvard’s conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers."

The administration's justification for this drastic measure rests on several claims:

• Harvard has allegedly refused to provide information about international students.
• The university purportedly has "extensive entanglements with foreign countries."
• The proclamation accuses Harvard of discriminatory admissions practices.
• It also alleges that crime rates have "drastically risen" at the school, warranting a government probe into the potential misconduct of foreign students.

Last month, the Department of Homeland Security attempted to revoke Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) – the program that allows the university to sponsor international students. However, a federal judge issued a temporary order blocking the move.

These actions have sparked widespread concern and criticism within the academic community. The implications of such a ban extend far beyond Harvard, potentially impacting the reputation of American universities as welcoming and inclusive centers of global learning.

The situation raises several key questions:

1. What specific information has Harvard allegedly refused to provide?
2. What constitutes "extensive entanglements with foreign countries" and how do these pose a threat?
3. What evidence supports the claim of discriminatory admissions practices?
4. Is there credible data to substantiate the claim of drastically rising crime rates at Harvard?

The coming weeks will be crucial as Harvard prepares to challenge the proclamation and defend its international student body. The outcome of this legal battle will undoubtedly have profound consequences for the future of international education in the United States.

This move by the Trump administration not only impacts individual students and their academic pursuits but also threatens the very essence of global collaboration and knowledge exchange that universities like Harvard have long championed. The future of international education hangs in the balance, and the world watches with bated breath.

Tags: Harvard, Commencement, International students, Graduation, Trump, Education, Illegal, Retaliation, University, Foreign students

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/harvard-calls-trumps-proclamation-block-foreign-students-attending/story?id=122530189