Could Harvard’s foreign student ban affect local colleges

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The news on Harvard’s foreign students is causing concern to some.

Harvard is not the only place who accepts foreign students.

Georgia accepts the 12th most, accepting almost 40 thousand.

Tennessee accepts the 23rd most, allowing over 20 thousand to study in the state.

Foreign students are starting to feel that they are not welcome in this country.

Xiao Wang is the CEO of Boundless Immigration.

He says, “Ultimately it makes you rethink if this is the place you want to be in. You have no idea what that future holds. You don’t know if you can look for an internship this summer or not. You don’t know where you are going to live, or study. All of it feels like you are pawns in a broad political game.”

Wang worries that a decline in foreign students could hurt America in the long term.

He says, “Making it difficult, scary, or impossible for students who want to do this is hanging other countries, particularly China, a massive competitive advantage when it comes to cutting edge research that will matter in this future economy.”

He believes that this will not only hurt America academically but also financially.

Wang says, “Out of the student body international students tend to be the ones who actually pay the most for school. It is not only their tuition, but they actually contribute significantly to the local economy. There are about a million international students currently in the US, and researchers show they contribute over 40 billion dollars.”

Wang is discouraged by what he called President Trump’s 180 opinion on foreign students.

He says, “Even President Trump on a podcast last year said it was a shame that these graduates from Harvard and other colleges come here, study here, take advantage of the system, influenced by the system here, and then are told to leave.”

Wang believes that if Harvard is not allowed to accept foreign students then that will trickle down to all other colleges.

Currently a Judge has blocked President Trump’s ban on Harvard’s foreign students.