The Trump administration’s latest move to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students has sent shockwaves through its athletics department, with several of its sports teams now facing potential decimation. A significant portion of Harvard’s varsity athletes are foreign nationals, and the new visa restrictions threaten to derail both their academic and sporting aspirations.
According to the university’s publicly available data, 21% of athletes on Harvard’s 2024–25 rosters, nearly 200 students across 42 varsity teams, have international hometowns. While some may hold US citizenship or permanent residency, many rely on student visas, now rendered void by the US Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Thursday order.
The impact is particularly severe for teams like men’s rowing, where seven of the eight Eastern Sprints title-winning crew members are listed as internationals. Hockey, squash, soccer, and golf also have rosters heavily reliant on foreign talent. The men’s squash team, for example, has 10 of its 13 players hailing from outside the US, while the women’s soccer and golf squads are similarly comprised of a majority of international students.
This sweeping ban stems from the administration’s accusations that Harvard has failed to protect Jewish students from antisemitism, and has allowed anti-American and pro-terrorist rhetoric to fester on campus. In revoking the school’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, the DHS said Harvard created an unsafe environment for Jewish students and cited its refusal to comply with demands for student conduct records as part of the rationale.
The move affects more than 6,800 international students enrolled at Harvard, comprising over a quarter of the total student population. University leadership has condemned the ban, calling it unlawful and retaliatory. In a statement, Harvard reiterated its commitment to international students and stated that legal action is being pursued to protect its academic community.
Harvard’s interim President Alan Garber, who is Jewish, noted earlier this month that combating hate remains a top priority for the institution. “This is our legal responsibility and our moral imperative,” he said, defending the school’s efforts amid the federal freeze on $2.2 billion in funds and the looming threat of losing its tax-exempt status.
In the athletic arena, the uncertainty has sparked concern. Although Harvard Athletics declined to comment directly, several coaches have yet to respond to inquiries, and the potential loss of international athletes has left many teams on unstable ground ahead of national and collegiate-level competitions.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, herself a Harvard alumna and former basketball player, voiced strong opposition to the federal action. “This is nothing but political retribution,” she said. “Our state benefits from the 85,000 international students who enrich our institutions, economy, and innovation ecosystem. President Trump’s actions undermine not only Harvard but the entire nation’s competitive edge.”
The international education community, too, has expressed alarm. With countries like Canada, the UK, and Australia actively courting foreign students, experts warn that U.S. higher education may lose its global appeal if such punitive measures persist.
A final decision on the SEVP revocation is expected to unfold in court, but for now, many of Harvard’s student-athletes face an uncertain future - both on the field and in the classroom.
(With inputs from AP)
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