President Donald J. Trump aims at Harvard University and the actions of his administration could have a significant impact on athletics at the prestigious Ivy League Institution.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Internal Security revoked Harvard certification to admit foreign students, essentially stopping its ability to register international students. In a press release, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Harvard “To promote violence, anti -Semitism and its coordination with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.”
Then Friday, after Harvard continued the Trump administration For the second time in less than a month, A federal judge blocked The action of the administration, putting the action of Harvard and Trump in a sort of limbo.
With Harvard in the process, Trump's sanction is suspended. If it ends up being authorized, it would have an impact More than 7,000 Harvard students – including university athletes.
“With a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of the Harvard student body, international students who contribute significantly to university and its mission”, ” Harvard said in his trial. “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”
Harvard sponsors 42 university sports, more than any other NCAA institution in division I in the country. According to in Sporto21% of Harvard athletes are from countries outside the United States
Two of them play for the Harvard women's basketball team, which won Ivy Madness and did the NCAA tournament this season for the first time since 2007. Lydia Chatira, Greece goalkeeper, will be a second year student next year, while the 6 -foot striker 4, Maya Nahar – A first year student – Hails from the South American country.
Chatira was a starter in the NCAA tournament team of last season, starting the 29 games and on average 2.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.3 minutes per match. Her best performance came in a victory over Boston, where she collected eight points, six rebounds and three interceptions in 25 minutes.
Nahar was nominated for McDonald's's All-America match while playing for the Western Reserve Academy in Ohio last season. She chose to sign with the Crimson about the offers of Wisconsin, SMU, Wyoming, George Washington, Yale, Buffalo and Davidson.
It is not clear if Chatira or Nahar attends Harvard on international visas, or if they are American citizens or holders of green cards. Falling into these latest categories would protect their status at Harvard against Trump's actions.
It is difficult to know which Harvard athletes could be affected because visa statutes are not something that is generally listed on websites for university athletics, nor something that Harvard is likely to reveal. So, if Trump's plan has repercussions, which athletes impacted will not be known before the start of these sports seasons – unless, of course, affected athletes speak themselves.
If Chatira or Nahar is not allowed to attend or play Harvard next season due to the actions of the Trump administration, we do not know what their options would be. The transfer portal for women's basketballs closed on April 23. A source has confirmed to SB Nation that neither Chatira nor Nahar are currently in the transfer portal.
Other female sports in Harvard could also be decimated. The field hockey team lists eight international players, while women have 15. Several other sports, such as squash and rowing, also have several international players.
Harvard Athletics spokesperson did not immediately respond to the request for SB Nation comments. In a Friday declarationHarvard president Alan Mr. Garber said that the actions of the Ministry of Internal Security were “illegal and unjustified”.
“This endangers the future of thousands of students and researchers through Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others in the colleges and universities of the country who came to America to continue their studies and realize their dreams,” added Garber. “… For these international students and academics affected by yesterday's action, know that you are vital members of our community.”
