President Trump is intensifying his efforts to restrict international students from enrolling at Harvard, pursuing a new strategy after a judge rejected a previous attempt to revoke the university’s ability to admit them.
Trump stated on Wednesday that allowing the specified group of foreign nationals to enter the U.S. is against the country’s interests. He believes Harvard’s actions make it an unsuitable place for international students and researchers. This statement coincided with a “proclamation” limiting entry to the U.S. for nationals from 19 countries, further restricting the ability of foreigners to study at Harvard.
Harvard responded that this is another unlawful retaliatory action by the Administration, violating Harvard’s First Amendment rights. The university affirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of its international students and scholars, emphasizing their vital role in the university’s academic mission and the benefits they bring to the country. Harvard has not yet commented on its specific plans to respond to the proclamation after TIME’s queries.
The proclamation follows a State Department directive instructing embassies and consulates to increase scrutiny of visa applicants seeking to travel to Harvard for any purpose. Additionally, the State Department recently directed embassies worldwide to intensify scrutiny of applicants’ social media accounts due to concerns about antisemitism and terrorism.
Harvard also faces the potential loss of federal funding and its accreditation. The university is among several elite U.S. higher education institutions targeted by the Trump Administration.
Here’s what to know.
What does the latest proclamation do?
The proclamation immediately suspends the entry of foreign nationals intending to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard. It will be reviewed for a possible extension after 90 days; otherwise, it will expire in six months.
This order affects those seeking to enter the U.S. to attend Harvard through the Student Exchange Visa Program (SEVP). It does not affect students attending other universities through SEVP. Furthermore, it directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “consider” revoking the visas of current Harvard students in the U.S. under F, M, or J visas on a case-by-case basis.
Exceptions may be granted to those “whose entry would be in the national interest,” as determined by Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, or their designated representatives.
Harvard currently has nearly 7,000 international students, representing over a quarter of its total enrollment. Other universities have already offered to accept impacted students.
If international students are forced to transfer, Harvard would face financial repercussions. Many international students pay full tuition and associated costs, which can range from approximately $60,000 per year for undergraduates to $80,000 per year for some graduate programs.
This proclamation follows previous efforts by the Trump Administration to cancel thousands of international students’ visas nationwide, before reversing course abruptly. The Administration has also recently targeted Chinese students, who make up nearly a quarter of all international students in the U.S., citing national security concerns.
Why is Trump targeting Harvard?
According to the recent proclamation, the government has concluded that “Harvard University is no longer a trustworthy steward of international student and exchange visitor programs.”
The proclamation cites concerns regarding crime, insufficient cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security, foreign entanglements (particularly with China), and alleged civil rights violations.
The proclamation asserts that “Crime rates at Harvard University—including violent crime rates—have drastically risen in recent years,” and that the university “has failed to discipline at least some categories of conduct violations on campus.”
It also alleges that Harvard “has refused the recent requests of the DHS for information about foreign students’ ‘known illegal activity,’ ‘known dangerous and violent activity,’ ‘known threats to other students or university personnel,’ ‘known deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnel,’ and whether those activities ‘occurred on campus,’ and other related data.” The proclamation concludes that Harvard is either not fully reporting disciplinary records for foreign students or is not adequately policing them.
The proclamation also references a report by the student newspaper, the Harvard Crimson, which stated earlier this year that the university has received more than $150 million in funding from foreign governments, surpassing all its Ivy League peers. A university spokesperson told the Crimson that these donations are used to support financial aid as well as educational and operational costs. Trump’s latest proclamation also cited a report by the Republican-led House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party alleging that “Harvard repeatedly hosted and trained members of a CCP paramilitary organization.”
Finally, the proclamation claims that Harvard “continues to flout the civil rights of its students and faculty,” citing the 2023 Supreme Court case regarding affirmative action in college admissions. The proclamation alleges that Harvard engages in “blatant” “discrimination against disfavored races” and “continues to deny hardworking Americans equal opportunities,” while it “admits students from non-egalitarian nations, including nations that seek the destruction of the United States and its allies, or the extermination of entire peoples.”
