CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Several of Harvard’s sports teams could face significant reductions following an announcement made on Thursday by the Trump administration. This move affects the Ivy League institution, which boasts the country’s biggest athletic program.
not eligible for foreign student visas
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Out of the eight rowers on the men’s heavyweight crew team that recently clinched the Eastern Sprints championship—and is now advancing to the national championships—seven have listed their home origins from abroad on the university’s official site. Mick Thompson, the top scorer from last year, along with former captain Jack Bar—who hails from Canada—are part of the men’s hockey squad. Additionally, ten out of thirteen players on the men’s squash team and over half of the athletes on both the women’s soccer and golf teams also claim homes outside the U.S.
The 42 varsity athletic teams at Harvard lead all universities nationally in terms of team count.
Sportico reported last month
That 21% of the athletes on the school’s rosters for the 2024-25 season—equivalent to 196 out of 919 participants—came from international backgrounds. The platform pointed out that some individuals might hold U.S. citizenship or green cards and thus would not require the specific international visas mentioned in the ongoing dispute. This conflict was initiated due to claims made by the administration alleging that the institution did not adequately safeguard Jewish students against antisemitism.
On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security stripped Harvard University of its permission to admit international students, claiming that the institution has fostered an unsafe atmosphere by permitting “pro-terrorism activists” who oppose America to attack Jewish students on campus. This decision might compel up to 6,800 overseas students currently enrolled at the university near Boston to either find another place within the U.S. or depart from the country altogether.
Harvard deemed the action illegal and stated they are striving to offer direction to their students. President Alan Garber, who identifies as Jewish, commented following the submission of a lawsuit aimed at preventing a federal funding embargo, saying that the institution “will keep combating hatred with the immediacy it requires whilst adhering entirely to our duties under the law. This isn’t just a legal obligation; it’s also an ethical necessity.”
Erin McDermott, the athletic director at Harvard, had earlier turned down an interview request from The Associated Press regarding the possible effects of the visa restrictions. When contacted again later, a spokesperson for Harvard Athletics directed inquiries to the institution’s primary media communications department; however, they have yet to provide a response. Similarly, when The AP reached out to three Harvard coaches for their input, none responded promptly.
The Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney—a former Harvard hockey player—chose not to comment after being reached out to by the Associated Press. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, a Democrat who was part of the Harvard basketball team, stated that these athletes form part of the approximately 85,000 international students coming into the state with intentions to “pursue studies, carry out research, launch enterprises, and foster job creation along with new inventions.”
President Trump is penalizing our students and harming our economy, which he sees fit due to their dissenting views,” she stated. “Only China and other nations that are attracting these students stand to gain from Donald Trump’s policies. This approach runs counter to the ‘America First’ principle.
Jimmy Golen, The Associated Press
