Harvard University and the University of Toronto have unveiled a contingency plan to ensure that international students can continue their studies in Canada if they are barred from entering the United States. The plan has been introduced in response to the potential of the Trump administration’s proposed visa restrictions, which aims to prevent international students from re-entering the country. This initiative is particularly relevant to students from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, who may be unable to return to the United States due to ongoing visa challenges.
Recently, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security moved to terminate Harvard’s ability to enroll international students, citing the university’s alleged failure to provide extensive behavioral records of student visa holders. These records include footage of protest activity involving student visa holders, even if such activities are not criminal in nature, as well as disciplinary records of all student visa holders in the past five years. However, a federal judge has since blocked the government’s effort to end Harvard’s visa program. The contingency plan is thus a safeguard in case of future visa restrictions.
The program will allow select international students, who have already completed one year at the U.S. campus, the opportunity to continue their studies through a visiting student program at the University, which will combine courses taught by faculty members from both institutions. The contingency plan was released to ease student uncertainty, and will only be used if there is sufficient demand from students unable to enter the United States due to potential visa or entry restrictions. Harvard Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein emphasized that the program will ensure that international students can continue to receive a world-class education in public policy, even if they cannot access the campus in the U.S. this year.
In addition to the visa challenges, the Harvard Kennedy School has also faced financial difficulties, with the Trump administration moving to cut billions of dollars in federal research funding for the university. This includes cuts related to its handling of alleged antisemitism and violence on campus linked to anti-Israel protests sparked by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Weinstein announced staff layoffs at the Kennedy School, citing unprecedented financial challenges that include a substantial proposed increase in the endowment tax and the massive cuts to federal funding of research.