Trump move puts 800 Indian students at Harvard in limbo

The Trump administration's decision to revoke Harvard's eligibility to enrol foreign students raised concerns over the legal status of thousands of students, including nearly 800 from India, currently enrolled at the elite school.

At present, Harvard hosts about 10,158 students and scholars from around the world across its schools. According to data, there are 788 students and scholars from India for 2024-25 academic year.

Ajay Bhutoria, a former advisor to Joe Biden, said Indian students contribute over $9 billion annually to the US economy and strengthen ties. "This policy directly threatens over 500 Indian students at Harvard, forcing them to transfer or leave the US before the next academic year," he said. It also sends a "chilling message" to Indian students and the broader South Asian diaspora that "your contributions are not valued".