As thousands of Indian and international students stare at an uncertain future after the Ivy League institution was stripped of its ability to enroll foreign students, the Donald Trump administration has left a 72-hour window open to revoke its order. In these 72 hours, Harvard has been asked by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to comply with six strict conditions to enroll foreign students again.
With its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification revoked, Harvard can no longer admit foreign students on F-1 or J-1 visas. This has put the careers of around 6,800 international students - a quarter of Harvard's enrollment - in limbo. Among them, around 800 students are from India.
This leaves foreign students with only two options - either enroll in another SEVP-certified university or face deportation on account of losing legal status to stay in the United States.
However, the Trump administration, which has been sparring with Harvard over "campus antisemitism", has left a window of opportunity for the university to again enroll foreign students if the university submits the following records.
1. All records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding illegal activity, whether on or off campus, by a non-immigrant student in the last five years.
2. All records in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding dangerous or violent activity, whether on or off campus, by a non-immigrant student in the last five years.
3. All records in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding threats to other students or university personnel, whether on or off campus, by a non-immigrant student in the last five years.
4. All records in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnel, whether on or off campus, by a non-immigrant student enrolled in the last five years.
5. Any and all disciplinary records of all non-immigrant students enrolled in the last five years.
6. All audio or video footage in the possession of Harvard University of any protest activity involving a non-immigrant student on a Harvard University campus in the last five years.
Source: India Today