• 28 May, 2025
• FAITH MIMDOO KEGH
• No comment

U.S. Halts Student Visas Amid Harvard Protests Over Trump Policies.

The U.S. government has suspended the processing of student visas following ongoing student protests and growing tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard

University.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a directive to U.S. embassies and consulates to pause all appointments for student and exchange visas. This move follows the revocation of hundreds of student visas and the deportation of foreign students accused of supporting protests related to the war in Gaza, with the administration claiming ties to militant activity.

President Donald Trump has intensified efforts to pressure Harvard University, including plans to strip the school of its right to admit international students. He also announced the termination of federal financial contracts with the institution, reportedly worth around \$100 million.

In response, hundreds of Harvard students protested, denouncing the government’s actions and showing solidarity with affected international students. Placards read messages such as “Trump = traitor,” while chants called for international students to be allowed to remain enrolled.

A court has issued a **restraining order** temporarily blocking the government’s actions, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday — the same day as Harvard’s graduation ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The Trump administration argues that public funds should prioritize vocational and trade schools over elite institutions like Harvard, which it accuses of harboring liberal and anti-American ideologies. A White House spokesperson criticized the university’s programs, dismissing some academic disciplines and pushing for support of more “American values-based” education.

Protesters, including students and faculty, expressed concern that the government’s stance would damage the reputation of U.S. higher education and discourage international students from applying.

Legal experts suggest that Harvard has strong grounds to challenge the administration’s actions in court. The university has already launched lawsuits to reverse the termination of its student sponsorship privileges and block funding cuts. Additional legal action from alumni is also expected in early June.

President Trump has defended the crackdown, claiming that many international students are “radicalized” and a threat to national stability. Despite legal hurdles, he has vowed to continue the campaign against institutions he believes oppose his policies.

FAITH MIMDOO KEGH

Manager – Oversees the daily operations, editorial planning, and strategic direction of the platform. A graduate with a solid academic foundation in media and communication, Faith brings a wealth of experience to the TokinPoint.

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