For Canadians studying abroad at America鈥檚 oldest, wealthiest and most prestigious university, the past 24 hours have been unsettling as international students have found themselves in the middle of a high-stakes standoff between Harvard and the White House.
On Friday morning, a federal judge temporarily blocked a Trump administration decision handed down the day before that would have stripped the university of its ability to admit international students.
It was the latest salvo in an ongoing battle in which the federal government has taken the Ivy League school to task over political ideology and , prompting Harvard to launch a lawsuit last month against the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has since doubled down, publicly attacking the university鈥檚 reputation on social media.
The Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students in its escalating battle with the Ivy League school, saying thousands of current students must transfer to other schools or leave the country. (AP Video / May 22, 2025)
Some Canadian students, of whom there are , expressed shock that they have now been drawn into this battle. One student likened it to a 鈥渘uclear option,鈥 something they never imagined would have been employed. Despite the reprieve, the future remains uncertain.
told Harvard on Thursday that as a result of noncompliance over a request for student records, the federal government was revoking the school鈥檚 Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, meaning no new international students would be allowed this fall, and any current international students would have to transfer elsewhere.
Harvard resident And in the it noted that 鈥渨ith the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard鈥檚 student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission.鈥
鈥淭here鈥檚 so much uncertainty,鈥 said one student who hails from 海角社区官网and has just completed his first year of graduate studies in English. He asked not to be named, noting a fear among peers about being potentially monitored by the government.
鈥淚 moved my entire life here. I came here with my partner last August. I drained my savings account to put a down payment on a rental property. I’m lucky enough to be granted (scholarships), but all of those things are tied to my enrolment here at Harvard, and so if my status as a student goes, it’s not just academic losses, it’s (significant) personal loss.鈥
The 25-year-old says he is trying to focus on getting through 鈥1,300 years of English literature鈥 to prepare for his first set of comprehensive exams later this summer, 鈥渂ut if I have to worry every three to six weeks about a change in my immigration status, whether or not I’m here legally or illegally, it makes that more challenging.鈥
Asked if he was going to expand restrictions on foreign students at other universities after a Harvard ban, President Donald Trump said, 鈥渨e鈥檙e taking a look at a lot of things.鈥 鈥淗arvard鈥檚 going to have to change its ways," he said. "So are some others.鈥 (AP Video / May 23, 2025)
Harvard had Canada is one of the school鈥檚 top countries of origin, following China and India. Prime Minister Mark Carney is an alumnus, and his daughter is currently a student there.
Harvard has been certified to admit international students for more than 70 years, according to the university鈥檚 court filing Friday. The suit describes the revocation as 鈥渢he latest act by the government in clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the government鈥檚 demands to control Harvard鈥檚 governance, curriculum and the 鈥渋deology鈥 of its faculty and students.鈥
In her letter Thursday, Noem accused Harvard of “perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies and employs racist 鈥榙iversity, equity and inclusion鈥 policies.鈥
Harvard faced intense national backlash over campus protests and criticism of its leadership in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. President Garber acknowledged that the 2023-24 academic year was 鈥渄isappointing and painful鈥 as he released findings last month from two internal on campus.
According to the task force reports, Jewish, Israeli and Zionist students felt unwelcome and compelled to hide their identities, while Muslim, Arab, Palestinian and pro-Palestinian community members reported feeling judged, misrepresented and silenced. The reports included recommendations and policy changes, some of which are underway.
Canadian students dismissed the suggestion that they could easily transfer to other universities. For now, they are cautiously waiting and watching 鈥 remaining in the country on the recommendation of the school聽鈥 and bracing for what might come next.
For Matthew, a Ph.D student in the sciences who hails from the 海角社区官网area and who was also cautious about being identified, the past 24 hours were spent with fellow international students anxiously brainstorming options. The injunction brought some relief. 鈥淚t should be OK,鈥 he said, 鈥渂ut I don鈥檛 know 鈥攖hings change.鈥
He added that the funding cuts are already being felt in his research labs and he bemoaned being swept up in a form of 鈥渃ollective punishment鈥 directed at the university.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not fair that the government is doing this. I鈥檓 not here to protest or cause trouble; I鈥檓 here to study and research.鈥
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