Harvard University is experiencing a surge in transfer inquiries from foreign students after the Trump administration moved to ban the institution from hosting international scholars, according to court documents filed on Wednesday.
Maureen Martin, Harvard’s Director of Immigration Services, stated in a court filing that “too many international students to count have inquired about the possibility of transferring to another institution” due to growing uncertainty over their status in the United States.
President Donald Trump’s escalating campaign against universities that he views as impeding his “Make America Great Again” agenda has shaken the confidence of many international students.
His administration has blocked Harvard from hosting foreign scholars, suspended all student visa processing, and targeted non-citizen campus activists for deportation.
Martin described the consequences of the administration’s actions as creating “profound fear, concern, and confusion” across Harvard’s international student community.
These students, who made up over 27 percent of the school’s enrollment in the 2024–25 academic year, are now grappling with emotional distress that Martin says is significantly affecting their mental health and academic performance.
In her filing, Martin said many international students and scholars had either skipped graduation ceremonies or canceled travel plans out of fear they might be denied re-entry to the U.S. if they left.
The turmoil has even led a small number of domestic students to consider transferring, not wanting to study at a university deprived of its global community.
Though a judge suspended the administration’s attempt to bar Harvard from enrolling and hosting foreign students following a lawsuit by the university, the effects of the policy continue to linger.
At least 10 foreign students or scholars at Harvard had their visa applications revoked or denied immediately after the block was issued—even those who had previously been approved.
Martin noted, “My current understanding is that the visa applications that were refused or revoked following the Revocation Notice have not yet been approved or reinstated,” despite the court’s intervention.
A hearing into the case is scheduled for Thursday.
What you should know
Harvard University is confronting a crisis after the Trump administration attempted to bar it from hosting foreign students, sparking widespread fear and mental health concerns among international scholars.
Over a quarter of Harvard’s student body is foreign, and the university has sued the federal government to challenge the decision.
Although a judge has temporarily blocked the ban, visa delays and refusals continue to cause disruption.
