NEW DELHI: Thousands of students, both from India and around the world, are facing a deeply uncertain future after the shocking news that Harvard University has temporarily lost its ability to enroll new foreign students. The Donald Trump administration has, however, dangled a tight 72-hour lifeline, demanding Harvard comply with six incredibly strict conditions to get its program back on track.

The core issue is that Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification has been revoked. Without it, the prestigious university can no longer admit international students who require F-1 or J-1 visas. This is a huge blow, as around 6,800 international students – that’s a quarter of everyone enrolled at Harvard – are now in a precarious position. Among them are about 800 students from India.

For these students, the clock is ticking. They’re left with a stark choice: quickly find another university certified to take foreign students, or risk losing their legal status in the U.S. and face potential deportation.

THE SIX DEMANDS IN 72 HOURS FOR HARVARD

The Trump administration, which has been publicly clashing with Harvard over accusations of “campus antisemitism,” isn’t completely slamming the door shut. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has given Harvard this narrow 72-hour window to submit a mountain of records if it wants to regain the ability to enroll international students. Here’s what Harvard needs to hand over within three days:

These are sweeping demands, covering a five-year period and encompassing a vast range of student activities and university records, from official documents to informal notes and even personal audio/video footage. The pressure is immense on Harvard to comply within this extremely short timeframe.

Read More: Harvard’s Foreign Student Program on the Brink: Trump Admin Issues 72-Hour Ultimatum with Six Sweeping Demands