A number of Harvard athletes could possibly be in danger after an order by the Trump administration rescinded pupil visas granted to Harvard College college students. A federal decide quickly blocked the order on Friday, however a authorized combat is probably going.
Practically 200 Harvard worldwide college students play sports activities throughout 42 Division I sports activities, the latter of which is probably the most within the nation. Six Crimson soccer gamers — 5 returning and one incoming — could possibly be affected by the ban. These six gamers are:
- OL Enzo Agostini, sophomore (Parksville, British Columbia, Canada)
- WR Brady Blackburn, sophomore (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada)
- OL Dominik Di Filippo, junior (Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada)
- TE Leo Li, junior (Beijing, China)
- OL Nihaal Rana, sophomore (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
- OL Ewan Newton, incoming freshman (Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada)
Many of the gamers are underclassmen anticipated to step into greater roles as they grow old. Nonetheless, Blackburn recorded six catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns within the spring sport. He’s anticipated to be a big a part of the large receiver rotation for a group that went 8-2 in 2024 below first-year coach Andrew Aurich.
Nonetheless, soccer is barely the tip of the iceberg at a college that pulls from extra worldwide expertise than nearly some other. Gamers on the lads’s basketball group hail from Sweden, France and Australia. The sector hockey group is crammed with athletes from England and the Netherlands. Roughly 1 / 4 of all Harvard college students are worldwide.
College students have the correct to switch, however the course of will be extra difficult for athletes. Gamers are required to switch throughout devoted switch home windows, which have already closed for all fall and winter sports activities, together with soccer. Even for gamers who can switch, it is unclear whether or not they’d be capable to discover open roster spots on such quick discover.
In an announcement on Thursday, the Division of Homeland Safety mentioned that it could block Harvard’s Scholar and Change Customer Program certification for “pro-terrorist conduct.” With out the certification, it is harder for college kids at a given college to obtain nonimmigrant visas to enroll as college students.
“Harvard can not enroll international college students and current international college students should switch or lose their authorized standing,” the US Division of Homeland Safety mentioned in an announcement.
Harvard shortly responded to the choice by the Division of Homeland Safety by calling the transfer “illegal.” The college didn’t instantly reply to request for remark, however president Alan M. Garber launched an announcement vowing to combat the choice in court docket.
“For these worldwide college students and students affected by yesterday’s motion, know that you’re very important members of our group,” Garber wrote. “We are going to assist you as we do our utmost to make sure that Harvard stays open to the world.”
All 4 offensive linemen (Agostini, Di Filippo, Rana and Newton) have been dropped at the U.S. throughout highschool to play at New England Prep Colleges. Newton, an incoming freshman, spent the 2024-25 faculty 12 months at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire.