According to statistics on the website of Harvard International Office, there are 788 students and scholars from India at all schools under Harvard University for the 2024-25 academic year.The Harvard Global Support Services said on its website that each year, anywhere from 500-800 Indian students and scholars study at Harvard.Ajay Bhutoria, former advisor to President Joe Biden on the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Commission told PTI in a statement that as an Indian-American committed to fostering opportunity for the community and a strong advocate for immigration policies under the Biden administration, he is “deeply outraged” by the Trump administration’s decision.He said Indian students contribute over USD 9 billion annually to the US economy and strengthen the cultural and economic ties between the two nations, often going on to lead innovation in tech, medicine, and beyond.“This policy directly threatens over 500 Indian students at Harvard, forcing them to transfer or leave the US before the next academic year begins. These students, who represent the brightest minds from cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, have invested their dreams, finances and futures in a Harvard education—only to have their aspirations shattered by a politically motivated attack,” Bhutoria said.He added that the additional demand by the Department of Homeland Security for protest footage and disciplinary records is a “blatant attempt” to intimidate and silence students, particularly those engaged in activism.“This is not the America we stand for—an America that should be a beacon of opportunity, not a place of fear for young scholars,” Bhutoria said.
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