Harvard's First International Student Faces Uncertainty Amid Trump Administration Policies

As Alfred Williamson celebrates his achievement in being the first from his school to attend Harvard, political developments threaten to overshadow his journey.

In mid-April, Williamson, 20, was settling into his freshman year at Harvard when he began to feel the pressure of the Trump administration's immigration policies, which were specifically targeting international students. Initially, he was reassured by friends who believed these threats were mere scare tactics, but the situation quickly escalated into a profound reality.

After the spring semester ended, Williamson, participating in a summer program abroad, was inundated with messages from alarmed family and classmates regarding the federal government's actions that halted Harvard's ability to enroll international students. Those actions left him and others in limbo, deeply concerned about their futures.

Despite a judge granting temporary restraining orders that paused the government's actions regarding international student enrollment, uncertainty looms for Williamson and thousands like him. His situation highlights a broader immigration debate, as he represents students from diverse backgrounds caught in the middle of political battles affecting higher education today.