AAP Leader Raghav Chadha Supports Harvard Amid Row With Trump Admin, Says, ' We Must Defend Academic Freedom'

Amid the huge uproar over Trump administration's decision to revoke Harvard University's right to enrol foreign students, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha, an alumnus of the prestigious Ivy League school, strongly condemned the move.

Taking to social media, Chadha wrote, "President Trump's recent move threatens the dreams and futures of international students at Harvard and beyond. As a proud member of the Harvard community, I wear my colours to show support for inclusion and academic freedom."

"I stand with @Harvard and all international students whose dreams and futures are under threat. We must defend academic freedom and global collaboration," he further added.

Trump Admin Revokes Harvard's Right To Enrol Foreign Students

In an unprecedented development, the Trump administration revoked Harvard University’s eligibility to enrol international students, telling existing foreign students to transfer or lose their legal status, a move that can impact several students from India.

This action comes after the Department of Homeland Security terminated USD 2.7 million in DHS grants for Harvard last month.

Department of Homeland Security said that its Secretary Kristi Noem is following through on her promise to protect students and prohibit terrorist sympathisers from receiving benefits from the US government.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to terminate the Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification.

“This means Harvard can no longer enrol foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status,” the DHS said in a statement.

Noem said in a letter to Harvard University that “I am writing to inform you that effective immediately, Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked”.

Noem said in the letter that the revocation of Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification means that Harvard is prohibited from having any aliens on F or J non-immigrant status for the 2025-26 academic school year.

6 Conditions To Be Met By Harvard

Harvard University on Thursday received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security, informing the university that if within 72 hours the university does not comply with the federal demands, the country’s oldest university will lose its privilege of enrolling international students.

1. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding illegal activity, whether on or off campus, by a non-immigrant student in the last five years.

2. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding dangerous or violent activity, whether on or off campus, by a non-immigrant student in the last five years.

3. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding threats to other students or university personnel, whether on or off campus, by a non-immigrant student in the last five years.

4. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnel, whether on or off campus, by a non-immigrant student enrolled in the last five years.

5. Any and all disciplinary records of all non-immigrant students enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years.

6. All audio or video footage in the possession of Harvard University of any protest activity involving a non-immigrant student on a Harvard University campus in the last five years.

US Judge Blocks Trump Admin With Restraining Order

Amid the massive uproar over Trump administration's unprecedented move involving revocation of Harvard University's right to enrol foreign students, a federal judge on Friday blocked the US government from implementing the highly questionable decision.

According to the Associated Press, the temporary restraining order was granted by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs.

In a firm retaliation to Trump administration’s decision, Harvard University on Friday challenged the move the calling it unconstitutional for defying to comply with the political demands of the US government.

According to the Associated Press, Harvard in a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Boston iterated that the government’s action violated the First Amendment and would have an “immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders.”