Trump Suspends International Student Entry at Harvard, Citing National Security Threats

In a sweeping move, the Trump administration halts visas and threatens revocation of existing ones for Harvard students, escalating its legal and political battle with the Ivy League institution.

BOSTON, June 4 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a proclamation suspending, for an initial six-month period, the entry of foreign nationals intending to study or engage in exchange programs at Harvard University. The directive marks the latest salvo in the administration’s intensifying conflict with the prestigious Ivy League school.

Citing “national security concerns,” the White House barred international students from entering the United States to pursue academic programs at Harvard, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The suspension, which may be extended beyond six months, also authorizes the U.S. State Department to consider revoking visas already issued to Harvard’s foreign students who fall within the order’s criteria.

In a sharply worded response, Harvard University condemned the action as “yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights.” The institution vowed to continue defending the interests of its international students.

The proclamation follows a recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston, who signaled her intention to impose a broad injunction to prevent the government from stripping Harvard of its ability to enroll international students. Judge Burroughs had already temporarily blocked a May 22 directive from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that aimed to immediately revoke Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification.

Facing legal resistance, the Department of Homeland Security appeared to shift strategy, opting to pursue a longer administrative process to challenge the university’s SEVP credentials. Nevertheless, Judge Burroughs indicated she would issue a longer-term preliminary injunction to safeguard the rights of affected students.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has mounted a broader offensive against the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university, including freezing billions in federal grants and threatening Harvard’s tax-exempt status. Harvard contends these actions are politically motivated retaliation for its refusal to allow federal control over its curriculum, faculty ideologies, and internal governance.

Further intensifying the pressure, a confidential cable obtained by Reuters revealed that the State Department had ordered all consular posts worldwide to conduct heightened vetting of visa applications associated with Harvard.

Trump’s proclamation accused Harvard of maintaining “a history of concerning foreign ties and radicalism,” as well as “extensive entanglements with foreign adversaries,” particularly China. It also referenced FBI concerns about foreign exploitation of American academic institutions to steal intellectual property, manipulate research, and spread misinformation.

Additionally, the order cited an alleged “drastic rise in crime” on Harvard’s campus and criticized the university’s purported failure to discipline certain conduct violations or adequately report foreign students’ illegal or dangerous activities to federal authorities.

Despite the administration’s aggressive stance, Harvard reiterated its commitment to upholding academic freedom and supporting its diverse global student body, which comprises nearly one-quarter of its enrollment.