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As a Gen Z, Here's What I Think About the Trump Administration's Targets on Harvard's International Student Body

Opinion

Fri, June 20

Education is not a choice; it is a privilege. It allows us to shape our own future. Harvard is a world-renowned institution.

I know we're all aware that Harvard is a prestigious university, as well as the administration against Trump administration issue, but in this article, I'll make a few concerns that I feel must be addressed. The question is not why the Trump administration removed such authority over Harvard, but why they did so, what steps they followed, and how the judicial process has been affected. The difficulty is that Harvard isn't the only one that has suffered; it's the only one that has fought back. I will provide a case for you.

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1. Why is the Administration taking such actions? What is the REAL reason?

As I examined the Harvard vs. Trump case, I identified a few alleged reasons why the Trump administration has stopped funding for these colleges. First, there have been accusations of antisemitism on campus, which means discrimination towards Jews.

Second, the students support "non-American values" that I honestly did not understand, but when I decode them, I am reminded of America as a capitalist state with democracy. That is what I would consider American principles if we looked at it from a political angle. Third, national security concerns emerge since Harvard has over 10,000 international students, 7000 of whom have had their visas revoked as of today.

Now, let's be honest and practical: are any of the administration's comments, among many others, credible? Are these serious causes to revoke visas? This is problematic because, if there is a national threat, suspects should be deported, but what about the whole foreign student body at universities?

Let us build a case based on the current financial state of the United States. Take note that the US owes an estimated $36 trillion in debt.

The USA Government heavily funds institutions, which I mean, Universities;

Harvard - $2.7 Billion

Cornell - $1 Billion

Northwestern - $790 Million

Columbia - $400 Million

University of Pennsylvania - $175 Million

Princeton - $210 Million

Brown - $510 Million

Yale - $777 Million

NYU - $732 Million

Gtech - $100 Million

These may be wrong, but they are only estimations. This alone comes to $7.394 billion. The United States government has donated $147.88 billion in financing to the mentioned colleges during the previous 20 years.

We have further institutions around the United States. Let us not forget about community colleges and other institutions. The colleges I mentioned have been targeted by the Trump administration. The stated amount is $60 billion in one year, which has been distributed to all universities in every state. However, the second viewpoint I'm developing in this situation is general funding. I was unable to breakdown the government's finances, but I did learn that the NIH (National Institute of Health) has an annual budget of $47 billion, the CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) has a budget of $12.2 billion, and all medical institutions receive $1.9 trillion. These institutes' funding has also been cancelled. The stock market, sometimes known as Wall Street, is due to pay the government $5.5 billion every year, for a total of $66.6 billion outstanding over the previous decade. As of now, the stock market in the United States has depreciated 0.06%. The US military budget for 2020-2025 is anticipated to be $4.8 trillion.

What are the applications of such statistics? Military funding will fall by around 20% between 2024 and 2025. The military owes $36 trillion in debt.

So? I've got two theories. The overall picture is that many countries, at least large ones, have declared war on one another, and these wars have an indirect influence on all of us. How? Inflation. We all depend on one another in some way, whether in business or in other settings. Inflation, or a decrease in the value of a currency, can have an influence on a country. When a country owes a loan to another country, it must repay it in its own currency, which implies that if the currency's value falls by 30%, repaying the interest becomes expensive. For example, if the United States pays a debt and converts USD to another country's currency, it will spend more money repaying the loan than it owes. The United States has trade and other agreements with numerous countries and may owe them money, causing their currency value to fall and the US to reimburse them, which is why they stopped the payments. My second argument is that as global tensions grow, the United States may decide to invest heavily in national security. But, why did they withdraw the student visa's?

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2. The action was repulsive.

Sure, the United States is a capitalist country, but it also values democracy and free expression. They opposed these ideals in this instance. It's almost as if they're suggesting these things quickly and brutally.

Nobody retaliated; Harvard did. They stated that the funds are being used to help university students. We know that if a family earns less than $100,000 per year, Harvard will award a merit scholarship to the student. Which is amazing. They spent the money on equipment, research, and a number of other things, which is why these universities are considered top-tier. However, by just questioning, the Trump administration feels "offended" and cancels the students' visas.

That is not democratic. That is not ethical. They do it not only at Harvard, but also at other institutions.

Why? Because the attitude here is, "I am the boss; how dare you question me?" Harvard has every right to raise questions; they are affected and will suffer the consequences; thus, they must find a way to lessen their fall. I read the Harvard Visa Complaint and will explain why this strategy is unjust and contradicts how the judicial system works.

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3. The Unethical Approach

Assume the US drafted a policy some time ago and then introduced laws to implement the accords. If the government is obliged to pass legislation that is important to the country's survival and must be carried out, it must either repeal the act, prepare a new one, or put it on hold. The next step is to take it to Parliament and vote on the law that must be implemented, which will happen if the majority approves.

This is the legal mechanism for proposing any significant action. Consider Article 370, which the Indian government implemented on the state of Kashmir.

Now the US government has breached this convention, which is and should be considered illegal. Completely. To start, here are two reasons why.

The US government violated the Due Process Clause, which states that no person legally resident in the United States shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property. If the Trump administration plans to deport legitimate immigrants, it must remove the Clause from the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.

Second, the US has not cancelled F1 and J1 visas, which allow colleges to accept international students. If non-immigrant visas have not been eliminated, why is the government withholding over 1700 visas at the beginning of the year and now 7000 visas? Just because they are the government doesn't give them the ability to make such judgements without parliament's permission and university guarantee.This is unconstitutional.

The government is breaking its own rules and expecting the rest of the world to follow suit. That is why Harvard has every right to appeal this act before the Supreme Court of Justice and restore its rights. It is ethical to remember and adhere to such stipulations. This is backed by their complaint.

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4. How are students affected?

This is the concluding part of the case. I understand there are too many arguments. But let's finish with a bang.

The Trump administration has hinted at this with regard to well-known and respected organisations. However, this might have a domino effect. The same word used by the US during the Cold War explains what they are going through now. This may affect all colleges and thousands of students across the United States. All of these students, and I quote, may have to repeat university and reapply to other universities abroad, meaning that they have wasted a vital period of their lives to study. These 7,000 and counting young people are victims. We question the Trump administration whether they feel that they are excellent and make sound judgments, how do they intend to bring all of these students to justice.

Families are shattered, lives are damaged, and hopes are dashed as a result of such heinous acts that have no justification. And, really, are their claims justified? The Trump administration just does not understand that the hole they have created might consume them.

I went to a college adviser, who told me, "I recommend that you do not apply to the United States for the next five years because of the situation that has developed." After this incident, I would never be able to study in the United States. Because, honestly, why should my potential, investment, and future be jeopardised by some of the government's repulsive actions?

Every year, the United States receives around $43.8 billion from students who come to study. This is it. I can quickly think of various nations, including India, Canada, the United Kingdom, China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

People who apply to the United States or have previously studied there are likely to disperse among these countries. To the Trump administration, you have not only lost the trust of students throughout the world, but you have also lost a huge source of revenue for your country. When we hear the word "USA," we see a nation of dreams, where everything is possible and we can realise our full potential and prosper. Even if you were not traditionally successful, if you live in the United States, you are seen as someone of significant status and promise. That is what this country symbolised and stood for across the world.

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I have given my reasons and will now conclude my case. The Trump administration should reverse these policies, which will fail in the educational sector as a result. They must realise that, regardless of what happened, they have ruined the lives of the children.

The United States has created an educational hole into which they have jumped; they are not too deep, and they may be able to save themselves; nevertheless, if they do not succeed, the United States may slip behind in the race for education and competitiveness. This isn't about kids; it's about the economy; education is an economic pillar upon which they rely, and they're undermining it with all their might. They must exercise restraint since this has a large and immediate influence on their own economy, rather than the global economy. I rest my case.

Vershaa Trivedi
1,000+ pageviews

Writer since Jun, 2025 · 12 published articles

Vershaa is a curious soul with a heart full of wonder, turning thoughts into words that spark connection and change. Passionate about expression and justice, Vershaa believes even the smallest voice can make a powerful difference.

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