Harvard Commencement Highlights Resistance to Federal International Student Restrictions

At Harvard University's 2025 commencement, Stanford professor and physician Abraham Verghese delivered a powerful speech emphasizing the importance of immigrants and international students to the United States, drawing on his own experiences as an immigrant from Ethiopia. Verghese praised Harvard's legal resistance to the Trump administration's attempts to restrict international student visas and revoke the university's certification to admit foreign students, calling these actions part of a "cascade of draconian government measures." Harvard President Alan Garber also addressed the crowd, reaffirming the university's commitment to global inclusion amidst ongoing legal battles over federal funding cuts and visa restrictions. Verghese highlighted the critical role of foreign-born doctors in American healthcare and framed the university's stand as an affirmation of fundamental American values. The commencement ceremony, which was livestreamed and included various speeches, received widespread attention for its timely defense of immigrant contributions during a politically charged moment. Verghese's remarks resonated nationally, underscoring the moral authority and leadership Harvard continues to project in the face of federal challenges.