• Harvard students protest against President Trump's restriction on international student enrollment.
• The administration's actions could affect over 7,000 international students at Harvard.
• A federal judge temporarily blocked the move, allowing Harvard to continue hosting international students.
• Students express fears of deportation and emotional distress amid government pressures.
• Trump has suggested a cap on foreign enrollment at Harvard while freezing federal funding.

In a significant backlash against President Donald Trump’s administration, hundreds of Harvard University students protested last week in response to the government's efforts to revoke the institution's ability to enroll international students. This move targets an essential segment of the student body, estimated to be nearly 30%, and has created widespread anxiety about the future of over 7,000 students who could face deportation or forced transfers, according to HuffPost, India Times, and TRT Global.

Trump's administration claimed that it was acting against Harvard due to allegations of antisemitism and bias against conservative opinions, accusing the university of failing to comply with federal requests about its international student population. On May 22, the Department of Homeland Security issued a "Notice of Intent to Withdraw," giving Harvard 30 days to challenge this directive, as reported by Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The temporary restraining order by a federal judge allowed Harvard to maintain its program temporarily while lawsuits are underway, yet many international students have expressed profound concern and fear regarding their legal status and future in the U.S. "We're being forced to think about transferring just as graduation approaches," said Maureen Martin, the director of immigration services at Harvard, in her court filings according to The New York Times and ABC News.

In response to the negative ramifications of these government actions, protests erupted, with students chanting slogans like "Trump = traitor" as the university community rallied for their international classmates. The protests echoed fears that Harvard’s historical mission as a diverse institution could be undermined by government policy, according to Middle East Eye and BBC.

Harvard's broader implications, particularly among smaller universities relying on international enrollment, may be significant. As Trump's administration continues its aggressive stance on immigration, experts warn of long-lasting effects on the U.S. reputation as a premier educational destination, as discussed in various articles from India Times and SCMP.