Letters | Trump’s war on international students has already done damage
Readers discuss the ban on foreign students under the guise of national security, Bill Gates’ philanthropy model, and early exposure to screens
Barring all foreign nationals who plan to attend Harvard University under the guise of national security is not only wrong – it’s a shocking abuse of power. The new presidential proclamation doesn’t single out any nation, but blocks students from Australia, Canada, China and many other countries who have worked hard to earn a place in American higher education.
These students are not just names on visa applications – they are highly motivated, talented individuals. For many, the chance to study at Harvard should have been one of the happiest moments of their lives. Instead, they now face uncertainty and fear because they chose to study at a university US President Donald Trump seems to have a grudge against. That is deeply unfair. It also sends a chilling message to the world that America no longer values the openness and opportunity that have long defined its universities.
This policy threatens to cut off the flow of ideas, undermining American leadership in research and education. Worse still, while this policy currently targets Harvard, it’s a warning to every other institution that might stand up for openness and academic freedom.