52 Taiwanese students affected by Harvard foreign student ban

哈佛大學禁招收外籍學生入學`,52名台灣學生受影響

Students may lose internships or face transfers amid DHS ruling


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) said Monday that 52 Taiwanese students, including newly admitted ones, are affected by the US Department of Homeland Security’s decision to revoke Harvard University’s ability to recruit international students.

The MOE pledged to assist students unable to complete their programs at Harvard, either by arranging additional entrance exams or helping with transfers to other institutions. While a US judge has issued a temporary block on the decision, affected Taiwanese students say they are waiting for further guidance from the university, per PTS.

The Homeland Security edict halted Harvard’s international student admissions and requires existing international students to transfer or lose their legal status in the US. Roughly 6,800 international students—27% of the university’s enrollment—are affected.

Sunny, a Taiwanese master’s student at Harvard Law School, said the ruling may disrupt her post-graduation plans. She is scheduled to graduate next week but may not be able to participate in the US Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows foreign graduates to work in the US for one to three years.

"The OPT internship you receive for one to three years after graduation is in the name of the school. If the school or the host school's qualifications are revoked, the qualifications of these OPT students will also be affected," said Sunny.

Harvard University President Alan Garber released an open letter Friday stating that the university had filed a lawsuit in federal court in Boston. A temporary injunction has been granted, and a hearing is scheduled this week to determine whether it will be extended.

"Before the temporary injunction was issued, we were worried about our legal status, along with travel and domestic transportation,” said Sunny. “Some of my classmates who went abroad are now worried about coming back."

National Taiwan University (NTU), which has a history of academic collaboration with Harvard, said it would welcome affected Taiwanese students.

Yuan Hsiao-wei (袁孝維), NTU’s dean of international affairs, said the school is experienced in responding to crises involving overseas students, citing the 2019 Hong Kong protests and the COVID-19 pandemic as examples.

"They can study in the same class as visiting students. We are also optimistic about the opportunity to provide dual degrees and other assistance," said Yuan.