Harvard University is witnessing a surge in transfer requests from international students following sweeping immigration actions by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, which seeks to bar the institution from hosting foreign scholars.
Maureen Martin, the university’s director of immigration services, revealed the growing discontent in a court filing on Wednesday, stating, “Too many international students to count have inquired about the possibility of transferring to another institution.”
The Trump administration’s policies have severely impacted the reputation of the United States as a destination for higher education, particularly for the approximately one million international students currently in the country. Recent measures include suspending student visa processing and actively pursuing the deportation of non-citizen campus activists.
Martin noted that the administration’s actions have resulted in “profound fear, concern, and confusion” among Harvard’s international community. “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 wrote.
Harvard reported that more than 27 percent of its student body in the 2024–25 academic year consisted of international students.
The move to bar the university from enrolling or hosting international scholars is currently being challenged in court. A federal judge has temporarily suspended the action, calling it unconstitutional, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday.
In the meantime, the effects of the policy shift have been immediate. According to Martin, at least ten foreign students or scholars at Harvard have had their visa applications denied, including those who had previously received approvals. “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 stated, despite the court’s intervention.
The uncertainty has also extended beyond Harvard’s international community. A number of domestic students have reportedly expressed interest in transferring, citing their unwillingness to attend a university without international peers.
Martin further disclosed that some foreign students had canceled their graduation plans or refrained from traveling, fearing they would not be allowed to return to the U.S. if they left the country.
Protests have been held on campus in support of international students, reflecting a broader pushback against the administration’s policies and their implications for academic freedom and campus diversity.
