Trump attack on Harvard to block international students raises fears at California campuses

Los Angeles Times ^ | May 23, 2025 3:57 PM PT | Michael Wilner and Jaweed Kaleem

[E. Pluribus Unum]

• A judge agrees with Harvard’s argument that the ban would cause ‘immediate and irreparable harm’ to the institution.
• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the actions against Harvard were a ‘warning’ to universities nationwide.

WASHINGTON — A multifront assault by the Trump administration against the nation’s oldest university intensified on Friday when Harvard sued to block the government from barring international student enrollment, and a judge issued an immediate order to halt the ban.

The rapid-fire legal action is the latest in Trump administration attacks against the university as it claims Harvard failed to adhere to its demands to combat antisemitism.

But the whiplash felt by Harvard international students is reverberating far beyond Cambridge, Mass., as university leaders and foreign students across the United States and California watch with growing alarm over how federal actions will affect the nation’s 1.1-million foreign student population — 6% of American higher education enrollment.

Campuses have been on alert since last month, when the Homeland Security and State departments canceled thousands of enrollment certifications and visas at dozens of U.S. colleges, including UCLA, for individuals who often had minor infractions such as traffic tickets. The government, seeing losses in court, later reversed those cancellations and was further blocked from undertaking them when an Oakland-based federal judge issued an injunction Thursday.

“The current mindset of the international community is uncertainty,” said Syed Tamim Ahmad, a junior at UCLA who is from India and recently completed his term as the student government’s international student representative.

Ahmad, who recently took the MCAT and plans to apply to medical school, said he was reconsidering whether continuing his studies in the United States is a safe option.

“We do not know what to expect or what to come next,” he said. “Every student saw what happened at...?”

[House Atreides]

Just pass a law TAXING (50%?) the tuition and fees of foreign students… ALL foreign students.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

"Harvard’s argument that the ban would cause ‘immediate and irreparable harm’ to the institution."

If you can't do the time, then don't do the crime.

[Mr. Mojo]

So Syed Tamim Ahmad is scared of being deported. How tragic.

[Bobbyvotes]

Foreign students already pay lot more than locals.

[House Atreides]

“ Foreign students already pay lot more than locals.”
*************************************************

I don’t know if that is true or not. But, if true, the more taxes would be raised from the institutions. And either way MORE AMERICAN STUDENTS would be going to those schools and fewer foreign students. And IMHO that’s a good thing,

[HYPOCRACY]

It’s not an attack, it’s a response to an attack.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“Trump attack” — gggrrrr! Sicko bastards.

How about:
* “President Trump ridding universities of virulent anti-semitism” or
* “President Trump ridding universities of anti-American foreign students” or
* “President Trump ending gravy train to university with $50 billion endowment”

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“Just pass a law TAXING (50%?) the tuition and fees of foreign students… ALL foreign students.”

AND the same law should levy a heavy tax on their endowment income!

[Texas Eagle]

A judge agrees with Harvard’s argument that the ban would cause ‘immediate and irreparable harm’ to the institution.

Which, in turn, would yield immediate and long-lasting benefit to America.

[McGavin999]

A judge can say you can’t decertify foreign students but a judge can not force the government to issue a visa.

[PGR88]

Foreign students already pay lot more than locals.

That is probably true. In most cases I see, rich foreigners, particularly from China and India, will pay full ride, plus all costs, for their kids to be here.

Its big money for many of these universities, even public ones.

but let's think about what that means. That, and Federal money, allows these "elite" schools to fund themselves, certainly at the expensive of average American students. It also has turned our universities into centers of woke, global elitism, not American elitism. I used to think America benefited by having foreign graduates spread out in the world. Certainly the CIA and deep state thrive on that. But that influence, as the deep-state attacks on Trumps since, 2016, shows that influence flows both ways -particular back into the USA.

[Getready]

Why should U. S. taxpayers subsidize public universities which have huge endowments? We are paying for grifting Marxists and other anti-Americans to indoctrinate our young people.
It’s a giant slush fund and racket. A big fat fowl of easy cash to be torn apart and devoured by commies, islamists, and pervert poser “educators”.

[itsahoot]

It is supposed to cause harm, they are breaking the law and I suppose the Judge is ok with that. Well I guess the DOJ is as well since no charges have been filed.

[Steve_Seattle]

I’m wondering how Trump can order a private university not to accept foreign students. Is this simply a restriction on how they can use federal funds, or is it something wider?

[Steve_Seattle]

What is the crime?

[itsahoot]

Foreign students already pay lot more than locals.

Not in California, they go for free at least some do I know that for a fact.

[ifinnegan]

Good.

If they’re scared, fix it. Make it right.

But they don’t want to do that.

Love their Chicom money.

[Bobbyvotes]

CA has hardly a normal state anymore. Rich folks live there for climate, and then there are middle class people with teats in the wringer with high cost of living. Rest are welfare dependent. My wife was billing manager for a medical practice in CA. She said more than half are on MediCal insurance.

Where I went to college, in-state residents got a discount on tuition. Foreign students paid full tab.

[faithhopecharity]

Almost all universities in California recruit or welcome, admit foreign students. Even impacted universities which turn away California and American citizens. Why, Even some local community colleges in California recruit foreign students! It’s perverse