The future queen of Belgium may have to leave Harvard University after President Trump’s administration blocked the Ivy League institution from being able to enroll international students.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directed that Harvard have its Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification nixed, accusing the school of “fostering” violence, not doing enough to combat antisemitism and “coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.”
Therefore, foreign students will have to transfer somewhere else or risk losing their legal status, according to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
Princess Elisabeth, the future queen of Belgium, could be one of many thousands of Harvard international students who might need to look elsewhere.
“The impact of [the Trump administration’s] decision will only become clearer in the coming days/weeks. We are currently investigating the situation,” Belgian royal palace spokesperson Lore Vandoorne told Reuters on Friday.
The palace’s communication director Xavier Baert told the news wire that “we are analysing this at the moment and will let things settle. A lot can still happen in the coming days and weeks.”
Elisabeth just finished her first year at Harvard University, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in public policy. She got her undergraduate degree in history and politics from Oxford University.
Elisabeth is the oldest child of Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.
Harvard fired back at the administration on Thursday, calling the decision “unlawful.” Then, the prestigious school filed a lawsuit Friday morning in federal court in Massachusetts, arguing the administration’s move to revoke SEVP certification was in violation of the First Amendment and the constitutional due process.
Harvard’s President Alan Garber declared that without international students, “Harvard is not Harvard.”
Hours later, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs temporarily blocked the administration’s decision to rescind the school’s certification to enroll international students. A hearing was scheduled for May 29 to deliberate whether a longer pause was needed.
