More trouble for Harvard: right to accept International students cancelled

[ProfandParent]

A very important difference. Thank you for pointing that out.

[Bill_Marsh]

@ProfandParent

They want " 1. Any and all audio or video footage, in the possession of Harvard University, of any protest activity involving a nonimmigrant student on a Harvard University campus in the last five years." This is not something that has been required by the administration in the past.

The Department of Homeland Security was given the right to ask for this information with a new law from Jan 20th 2025. Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats – The White House

I think you mean “a new presidential order” and not “a new law”. And what they’re doing is not “asking for this information” but “demanding this information”.

Isn’t Harvard contesting the constitutionality of Noem’s demands? The presidential order itself does not direct the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security to take the specific actions which Noem has take with Harvard and other colleges.

[kelsmom]

The information demanded within 72 hours goes beyond what is required of schools for international student record keeping and reporting. The request is worded in such a way that it absolutely goes beyond actual laws governing student visa record keeping and reporting. I can’t expand on that because it gets into a political discussion. But I dealt with international student visas, and I know that the request is for information that is not required by law to be retained in student files and reported to the USCIS. The school would need to figure out exactly what the government actually wants, and they would need time to gather that kind of information.

[momofboiler1]

In addition to my first mod note: “Discussions about potential changes/impacts on policy still belong in the political forum as does general commentary.”

Policy update related to politically laced discussions

In light of all the current events directly impacting college admissions and student life, we have updated our policy to the below: If a current news article directly related to colleges provides valuable information, it will be allowed in the open forum. For example, an article providing factual information about immigration policy or changes in research funding will be allowed, as that’s directly relevant to our forum members. Discussions about the impact of such policies are also fine—but not discussions about the politics behind them. Discussions about potential changes/impacts on policy still belong in the political forum as does general commentary. For example, speculation that the administration might eliminate Optional Practical Training (OPT) for foreign students while no official change has been announced still belongs in the political forum. Note that all forum rules still apply, including no debating.

[momofboiler1]

Based on the number of flags this thread has generated, I’m closing and directing members to the discussion on the political forum: https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/t/harvard-rejects-white-house-demands-political-thread/3688130/