"Admitted Unexpected Outcome: Said There Would Be No Consequences, Turns Out I Was Mistaken"
Fire and Fear: Trump's Damaging Impact on Higher Education
Do you dread the knock on the door? Are you questioning the future of your academic journey? Welcome to the world of international students navigating the University landscape under President Trump's regime.
Vincent Heddesheimer, a Princeton-bound German Ph3 student, never imagined the ominous signs plastered outside his house would serve as his survival guide. Tips on what to do if ICE comes knocking, the look of their cars, and the importance of having key phone numbers written down in case his phone is seized. It's the new normal for international students like him, as Trump's administration cracks down on universities and their funding.
Coco Fitterman, a US-based Ph3 student at City University of New York, once dismissed the whispers of impending danger. But the arrest of Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, a face of the Gaza protests, despite a valid residence permit, shattered her complacency.
The Trump administration's policies have stirred up a maelstrom of fear and uncertainty among universities, with Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's actions towards Harvard serving as a chilling warning to universities nationwide: conform or face the consequences. However, the effects aren't evenly felt across the education system.
Trump's government has snatched billions in research funds, canceled contracts, and threatened universities with losing tax benefits and the release of sensitive information. The President demands universities to battle "unlawful discrimination and ideological indoctrination," and take action against anti-Semitism and violence. But Trump's tactics are far from selective, with freed research funds used to pressure universities that align with liberal ideology, such as the cancellation of funding for cancer research at universities deemed too liberal.
While protests against the war in Gaza were once considered controversial, Trump's administration uses them to justify their relentless attacks on educational institutions. The protests, once a grassroots movement, were gradually quelled before Trump even took office. Many students are now left feeling drained and helpless, admits Fitterman.
Heddesheimer, nestled within the ivy-covered walls of Princeton, feels relatively safe in his bubble. However, Trump's policies are far from elitist, with their main targets being the foot soldiers of the education system. Fitterman, a graduate student and teacher at a public university, faces the brunt of these policies, as her courses, research, and job at the Language Center, designed to assist minorities and disadvantaged students, are under threat due to funding cuts.
The public education system, primarily funded by state and federal money, makes Fitterman and her students more vulnerable to political changes. Heddesheimer, however, has faith in the institution of Princeton, intending to return to Germany to conduct research despite the uncertainty that looms over the university.
As Europeans take to the skies, acknowledging the precarious landscape of American academia, a question lingers in the air. How long will we continue to breathe in this atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, as the hypnotic fire of Trump's politics consumes the soul of higher education?
Sources: ntv.de, By Lukas Wessling, New York
- Donald Trump
- University
More Info: The recent restrictions at Harvard University were initiated by a proclamation issued by President Trump on June 4, 2025, which specifically targets Harvard University, restricting the issuance of F, M, and J visas for new students. This means that any new international student intended to join Harvard University is prohibited from entering the U.S. As of June 6, 2025, a federal court granted a temporary restraining order preventing the enforcement of this proclamation until at least June 20, 2025[1]. A broader travel ban announced on the same date affects nationals from 19 countries[2][3]. This ban restricts immigrant and non-immigrant visas for nationals from these countries, with full restrictions on 12 countries and partial restrictions on seven others. The ban aims to protect the U.S. from perceived national security threats, with exceptions for certain visa categories and individuals whose entry serves U.S. national interests[1][3]. This broader ban could indirectly affect international students by limiting the pool of eligible students from these countries.
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive concerning the impact of Trump's administration on education-and-self-development, particularly with regards to thepolitics of university funding and the general-news regarding visa restrictions. Despite these challenges, international students like Vincent Heddesheimer and Coco Fitterman continue to navigate their academic journeys, facing uncertainty and fear.
