Harvard University is offering undergraduate students the opportunity to earn academic credit by conducting research and writing for asylum applicants through a partnership with a nonprofit legal services organization.
The course, designated as HIST 123 within the university’s History department, is titled “Immigrant Justice Lab” and connects students with the Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice, which provides free legal representation to individuals seeking asylum in the United States.
According to the course description, the program “trains and supports teams of undergraduates to contribute research and writing for asylum applicants represented by attorneys at the Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice.” The curriculum operates on four parallel tracks, including one focused on “reflection and on the ethical practice of legal advocacy, and responsible depictions of violence and injustice in foreign cultures.”
The course has generated substantial criticism from conservative education advocates and commentators who view the program as evidence of institutional bias within the nation’s elite universities.
Corey DeAngelis, a school choice advocate and Senior Fellow at Americans for Fair Treatment, characterized the offering as symptomatic of broader problems within the institution. He stated that Harvard has become “an irredeemable bastion of woke activism, prioritizing illegal immigrants over American students.”
DeAngelis called for the federal government to remove taxpayer funding and the university’s tax-exempt status, arguing that with billions of dollars in endowments, Harvard does not require federal support while pursuing what he termed “radical agendas.”
Harvard student Tejas Billa has previously indicated that the university’s alleged left-leaning bias in academics creates an environment that isolates certain students on campus.
The Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice, according to its website and IRS documentation, receives funding almost entirely through contributions from individual, foundation, and corporate donors. The organization did not respond to requests for comment regarding the partnership.
Harvard University records indicate the course has been part of the curriculum for some time, with offerings dating back several years. The university also declined to provide comment on the program or address the criticism it has received.
The controversy surrounding this course reflects ongoing tensions regarding the role of higher education institutions in political and social advocacy, particularly as it pertains to immigration policy. Critics argue that universities should maintain greater neutrality on politically contentious issues, while supporters of such programs contend they provide valuable real-world experience and serve humanitarian purposes.
The debate also raises questions about the appropriate use of academic resources and whether institutions receiving federal funding should engage in activities that some view as advancing specific policy positions on matters of ongoing national debate.
As universities across the nation face increased scrutiny regarding their political leanings and use of resources, programs such as Harvard’s Immigrant Justice Lab are likely to remain focal points in broader discussions about the mission and responsibilities of American higher education.
Related: Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Icon and Presidential Candidate, Dies at 84
