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US President Donald Trump has suspended the entry of foreign students seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard University, citing “national security” concerns. The suspension, which can be extended beyond six months, also directs the secretary of state to consider revoking existing visas of students currently studying at the university. Trump accused Harvard of developing “extensive entanglements” with foreign countries and continuing to “flout the civil rights of its students and faculty.”
Harvard’s Response
Harvard has responded by calling the order “retaliatory” and emphasized that it would continue to protect its international students. The university has been embroiled in a legal battle with the Trump administration after it froze billions of dollars of federal funding and accused the institution of failing to root out antisemitism on campus. “Considering these facts, I have determined that it is necessary to restrict the entry of foreign nationals who seek to enter the United States solely or principally to participate in a course of study at Harvard University,” Trump said.
Impact on International Students
The suspension throws the futures of thousands of international students into limbo. For the 2024-2025 school year, Harvard enrolled nearly 7,000 foreign students, who made up 27% of its population. Last week, a Chinese Harvard student called for unity during the university’s graduation ceremony, just days after Trump vowed to “aggressively” revoke visas for Chinese students.
Broader Context
The Trump administration has ramped up its crackdown on higher education in the US, accusing universities of failing to tackle antisemitism amid protests against the war in Gaza across campuses. Earlier on Wednesday, the White House threatened to strip Columbia University of its accreditation over claims it violated the civil rights of its Jewish students. The move is seen as another escalation of the ongoing legal row between the Trump administration and Harvard.