Harvard still recruits international students: Vietnamese international students are not surprised

“Harvard will continue to protect the rights of international students and scholars, who are essential to the university’s mission and academic community—and whose presence here brings enormous benefits to our country,” the letter from Harvard’s International Office and Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs said.

"Temporary victory" for Harvard University

On the morning of May 29, 2025 (Boston time, USA), a federal court extended a temporary restraining order (issued on May 23) to block the government 's decision to strip Harvard University of its international admissions rights. The court also agreed to grant a preliminary injunction.

In a letter to students, Harvard's International Office and the Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs said that while it was a temporary victory, the court's decision prevented the federal government from revoking the school's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) accreditation. "Harvard will continue to protect the rights of international students and scholars, who are essential to the university's mission and academic community—and whose presence here brings enormous benefits to our country," the letter said.

Notably, the Harvard University graduation ceremony took place at the same time as the hearing. During the ceremony, Harvard University President Alan Garber gave a speech saying, "Welcome to the members of the class of 2025, who are from all over the country and all over the world . All over the world. As it should be." These comments were greeted with thunderous applause. According to the New York Times , during the ceremony, some students and families spread the news about the hearing results, some people cheered and celebrated. A Vietnamese student studying abroad at Harvard confirmed this.

Harvard graduates with shirts that read "Harvard is not Harvard without international students"

Photo: REUTERS

However, attorneys for the Department of Homeland Security hinted in court that the administration is exploring other ways to bar international students from enrolling at the Ivy League school. In a court filing the day before, Maureen Martin, director of immigration services at the Harvard International Office, said that many international students had asked about transferring and that the atmosphere at the university in recent days was one of fear, concern, and confusion.

Vietnamese students studying abroad are not surprised by the court's decision.

Some Vietnamese students studying at Harvard said they were not surprised by the court's decision, similar to those who believed the school would win the lawsuit and international students would still be able to study at the school. "I am quite sure about the school's legal basis in this matter. Not allowing international students to enroll at a school like Harvard is shocking to the entire university system in the US," said a Vietnamese student (name withheld).

This international student also added that in the past few days, everything has been going quite normally because the faculty and research team have provided him with full information. He has not felt too much impact on him yet.

With what is happening, another person assessed that many international students will still feel secure to continue studying at Harvard. Previously, a Vietnamese student at Harvard shared that many professors, student groups, and school departments have sent many emails of support and encouragement to international students as well as giving some ways that local students can help international students during this time.

Students decorate their graduation caps with the message "Protect international students"

Photo: REUTERS

This person said that compared to when he received the news, he has not heard many reactions from students, possibly because the school is holding graduation ceremonies. But according to this international student, in the speech of the President of Harvard University at the ceremony, the passages mentioning the importance of international students to Harvard received a lot of welcome. "I think those statements show that Harvard will continue to fight in the future and the professors and students of the school will support it," this international student said.

However, another Vietnamese student said that they still need to continue to monitor information and be careful because the government said it will check each student's visa.

Harvard student visa applicants' social media accounts reviewed

On May 30, the US State Department asked consulates and embassies to immediately begin reviewing the social media accounts of applicants for student visas to Harvard, according to POLITICO .

The cable, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, states that consular officers should “conduct a comprehensive screening of the online presence of any nonimmigrant visa applicant seeking to visit Harvard University for any purpose.” While the policy primarily affects students, it will also include Harvard faculty, researchers, staff, and guest speakers. The cable calls Harvard a “pilot program” to screen visa applicants and will be expanded over time, suggesting the program could potentially extend to other universities.

The cable also instructed consular officers to notify applicants with private social media accounts that they may be considered evading investigation, and to ask them to make their accounts public while the Fraud Unit reviews their cases.

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