Trump Blocks Harvard from Enrolling International Students
Trump administration halts Harvard’s ability to accept foreign students for 2025–2026 in unprecedented move. Harvard has failed to safeguard campus safety, according to the instruction from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
DHS Cites Safety, Antisemitism, and Foreign Ties
Officials claimed Harvard University created an “unsafe environment” for Jewish students. The administration also accused the school of hosting members of a Chinese paramilitary group in 2024. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanded immediate access to all records related to foreign students’ participation in protests.
He was stripped of its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), affecting over 6,800 foreign students.
Harvard Responds: Calls Move ‘Unlawful Retaliation’
Harvard officials called the revocation illegal and politically motivated. A university statement said,
“This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country.”
President Alan Garber warned that the school would not compromise on its “legally-protected principles,” despite federal pressure.
Students Face Deportation or Transfer
International students must now transfer to another institution or leave the U.S. The move has sparked fear and uncertainty among the student body. Student groups, including the Harvard College Democrats, accused the Trump administration of authoritarian overreach.
Federal Crackdown on Elite Universities Gets More Severe
This decision follows Trump’s proposal to remove Harvard’s tax-exempt status and eliminate $2.6 billion in government subsidies to the university. Education officials and free speech supporters criticized DHS for requesting comprehensive monitoring data on kids.
Wider Impact and Backlash
Education groups and legal experts have condemned the action as unlawful. Ted Mitchell of the American Council on Education said,
“This is an illegal, small-minded overreach.”
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression called the DHS request a “fishing expedition” and a blow to student rights.
What’s Next for Harvard and Foreign Students?
Harvard has 72 hours to submit extensive records. If not, the ban will remain. Analysts expect a legal battle that could impact other Ivy League and U.S. institutions.
Trump administration halts Harvard’s enrollment of foreign students, marking a new front in its push against perceived liberal strongholds.
Source: AP News
