More than 7,000 international students are facing uncertainty following a new U.S. immigration policy that could jeopardize their ability to remain in the country, including Belgian Princess Elisabeth, heir to the throne.
According to a lawsuit filed by Harvard University, the policy could impact approximately one-quarter of its student body and have a “devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders.”
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the measure in a letter, stating that international students must leave the university or transfer elsewhere to maintain their visa status.
Among those affected is 23-year-old Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, who has completed her first year of graduate studies at Harvard. She previously earned her undergraduate degree from Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Elisabeth is first in line to the Belgian throne, following a 1991 constitutional amendment that allowed female succession.
A spokesperson for the Belgian royal family told POLITICO that they are still assessing the implications of the U.S. government’s decision, and expect greater clarity in the coming days. The royal palace’s communications director also told Reuters the situation is being closely analyzed, and that they are allowing time for developments to unfold.
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