Education

Trump Suspends Harvard’s International Student Program Over National Security Concerns

In an unprecedented move, U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a proclamation suspending entry for all international students and exchange participants bound for Harvard University. The order, effective immediately for six months (with potential extensions), cites national security risks, escalating a bitter feud between the administration and the Ivy League institution.

Harvard, which relies on foreign students for 25% of its student body, condemned the decision as “illegal retaliation” and vowed to challenge it in court. The proclamation also instructs the State Department to review and potentially revoke visas of current Harvard students who meet unspecified security criteria.

The Backstory: A Growing Legal and Political Battle

This latest salvo follows weeks of tension between the Trump administration and Harvard:

May 22, 2024: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, which authorizes it to host international students.
May 23: A federal judge in Boston, Allison Burroughs, temporarily blocked the revocation.
May 28: The administration pivoted to a longer administrative process to challenge Harvard’s SEVP status.
June 5: Trump’s proclamation effectively bypasses the courts by barring new student entries outright.

Harvard alleges the administration is punishing the university for resisting government interference in its curriculum, faculty appointments, and governance.

National Security Justifications—Or Political Retaliation?

The White House’s two-page directive accuses Harvard of:
🔴 “Extensive entanglements with foreign adversaries” (notably China)
🔴 Failing to curb “radicalism” and “foreign influence” on campus
🔴 Inadequate reporting of foreign students’ “illegal or dangerous activities”

The proclamation echoes longstanding FBI warnings about foreign espionage in academia but provides no specific evidence linking Harvard to such threats.

Critics argue the move is politically motivated, noting:

Harvard has been a frequent target of conservative lawmakers over DEI policies and liberal faculty.
The administration recently froze billions in federal grants to Harvard and proposed revoking its tax-exempt status.

Impact on Students and Academia

The immediate effects are stark:

3,600+ incoming international students face deferred enrollment or rescinded visas.
Current foreign students risk sudden deportation if their visas are revoked.
U.S. consulates have been ordered to intensify vetting of Harvard-bound applicants.

Harvard President Claudine Gay called the order “an assault on academic freedom”, while legal experts warn it could set a dangerous precedent for government overreach into higher education.

What’s Next?

With Harvard poised to file emergency lawsuits, the battle may reach the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, universities nationwide are watching closely—fearing they could be next in the crosshairs.