Harvard’s International Students Weigh Departure Amid Escalating Immigration Restrictions

Harvard University is facing a surge of transfer inquiries from international students following a series of restrictive immigration measures introduced by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a university official.

“Too many international students to count have inquired about the possibility of transferring to another institution,” Maureen Martin, Harvard’s Director of Immigration Services, stated in a court filing on Wednesday.

The development follows a series of policy actions by the Trump administration aimed at curtailing the presence of foreign students in U.S. universities, particularly at institutions perceived by the White House as opposing the president’s populist “Make America Great Again” agenda.

Among the most contentious measures is a move to bar Harvard from hosting international scholars—a decision currently being challenged in court. In addition, the administration has halted all student visa processing and reportedly targeted non-citizen campus activists for deportation.

According to Martin, these actions have created a climate of “profound fear, concern, and confusion” at Harvard. The university has been “inundated with questions from current international students and scholars about their status and options,” she said.

University records show that more than 27 percent of Harvard’s student population during the 2024–25 academic year comprised international students.

“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,” Martin added.

Some students, fearing denial of re-entry into the U.S., have canceled travel plans or opted to skip this week’s graduation ceremonies. The uncertainty has also affected domestic students, with Martin noting that “a handful of domestic students at Harvard had also expressed serious interest in transferring elsewhere because they did not want to attend a university with no international students.”

In a partial legal reprieve, a federal judge last week temporarily suspended the administration’s effort to block Harvard from enrolling and hosting foreign students after the university filed a lawsuit calling the move unconstitutional. A court hearing on the matter is scheduled for Thursday.

Despite the judge’s suspension order, Martin reported that “at least 10 foreign students or scholars at Harvard had their visa applications refused immediately after the block on foreign students was announced,” including individuals whose applications had previously been approved.

“My current understanding is that the visa applications that were refused or revoked following the Revocation Notice have not yet been approved or reinstated,” she noted in the filing.

The situation underscores the mounting pressure on U.S. academic institutions as they navigate a turbulent immigration landscape, even as they attempt to support the diverse international communities that are vital to their educational missions.