Trump-Harvard battle: American Dream of Indian students at risk

The Donald Trump administration's decision to revoke Harvard University's certification to enroll international students has triggered alarm among Indian education experts, with many warning that it could force thousands of aspiring students to reconsider their higher education plans in the United States (US).

- SANKET KOUL

Even as a federal judge blocked the Trump administration's move on Friday, the crackdown on the Ivy League university could precipitate an "exodus" of students, ultimately delivering a significant blow to the US economy, said Kalpesh Banker, managing partner at Delhi-based education consultancy EduShine Search Partners.

"The battle of prestige between the US administration and university authorities is widely being seen as a matter of ideological autonomy, with no solutions in sight as of now," he said.

Harvard currently hosts 10,158 international students and scholars across its schools. Of these, 788—the second-largest cohort—are from India, according to university data. China tops the list with 2,126 students.

The development followed an order by US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirsti Noem, who instructed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to revoke the Ivy League university's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification beginning with the 2025-26 academic year.