The Trump administration has taken a significant step against Harvard University, barring foreign students from attending the prestigious school citing concerns over safety, foreign ties, and alleged misuse of student visa programs. Here’s what you need to know:
- New Proclamation Signed: President Trump signed a proclamation suspending the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard.
- Why Harvard? The White House accuses Harvard of failing to address crime, discipline violations, and alleged ties to foreign adversaries like China.
- Visa Programs Affected: The suspension applies to students with F, M, or J visas but exempts those whose entry is deemed in the national interest.
- Harvard’s Response: The university called the decision “illegal” and vowed to protect its international students.
What Led to This Decision?
The decision is the latest in a series of conflicts between the Trump administration and Harvard. In May, the government revoked Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which allows schools to host international students. A federal judge upheld the block, leading to this new proclamation.
The White House pointed to several reasons for targeting Harvard:
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Concerns Over Foreign Ties: The administration accused Harvard of having “extensive entanglements” with foreign adversaries, particularly China. It noted that the university has received over $150 million from China and has ties to entities linked to Beijing’s military and intelligence networks.
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Crime and Discipline Issues: The White House claims Harvard has seen a “drastic rise in crime” and has failed to properly discipline foreign students, some of whom have been linked to violent incidents on campus, including antisemitic attacks.
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Antisemitism on Campus: The administration criticized Harvard for not addressing “violent anti-Semitic incidents,” with some perpetrators identified as foreign students.
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Alleged Misuse of Visa Programs: The White House accused Harvard of not fully reporting disciplinary records for foreign students or policing their conduct effectively.
Tensions Over Funding
The conflict between Harvard and the Trump administration began earlier this year when the government froze $1 billion in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to the university. The administration accused Harvard of failing to protect students from the effects of antisemitism on campus.
Harvard sued the administration over the funding freeze, but the situation escalated when the Department of Homeland Security revoked the school’s ability to host foreign students in May. The White House cited a “toxic campus climate” as the reason.
Harvard’s Ties to China Under Scrutiny
The Trump administration has repeatedly criticized Harvard for its connections to China. The White House highlighted that Harvard’s 2025 commencement speaker, Luanna Yurong Jiang, has ties to entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party’s military and intelligence networks.
Additionally, the administration pointed out that Harvard has been a popular destination for high-ranking Chinese officials and their families. For example, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s daughter attended the university as an undergraduate in the early 2010s.
Harvard Fights Back
Harvard has denied the allegations, calling the administration’s decision “another illegal retaliatory step” and vowing to protect its international students. A university spokesperson said, “This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights. Harvard will continue to protect its international students.”
What’s Next?
The proclamation does not apply to students already enrolled at Harvard or those attending other U.S. universities through the SEVP. However, it could have significant implications for Harvard’s international student programs and its reputation on the global stage.
The move has sparked debate over the role of universities in addressing national security concerns and the balance between protecting academic freedom and ensuring campus safety.
As the legal battle between Harvard and the Trump administration continues, one thing is clear: the decision to suspend foreign student programs at one of the world’s most prestigious universities could have far-reaching consequences for international education and U.S. relations with foreign nations.