President Donald Trump is on the warpath against Harvard and international students hoping to attend the prestigious university. Trump signed an executive action that prevents foreign nationals from entering the U.S. to study at Harvard University, accusing the school of failing to implement discipline on campus and fostering a dramatic rise in crime.
“Harvard’s actions show that it either is not fully reporting its disciplinary records for foreign students or is not seriously policing its foreign students,” Trump said.
He added that Harvard’s conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers Trump said. He went on to say, “Until such time as the university shares the information that the federal government requires to safeguard national security and the American public, it is in the national interest to deny foreign nationals access to Harvard under the auspices of educational exchange.”
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Trump’s proclamation would bar foreign nationals coming to the U.S. whose primary purpose for entry was to study at Harvard, or for an exchange visitor program hosted by the university.
Trump wants to block international students from entering the U.S. through the Student Exchange Visa Program (SEVP), and has ordered the State Department to consider revoking the legal status of Harvard students already in the U.S. on education visas.
“This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights,” University Spokesman Jason Newton said in an emailed statement. “Harvard will continue to protect its international students.” The suspension is reportedly set to run for six months though could be extended.
Trump and his administration are flexing their muscles with this apparent workaround after a federal court blocked the Department of Homeland Security’s initial efforts to revoke Harvard’s authorization with the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
“If these judges want to be secretary of State or the president, they can run for office themselves,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Larry Summers, the former U.S. Treasury secretary who led Harvard from 2001-2006, wrote in a post on X: “Yes, Harvard should make a variety of changes but extortion is the wrong way to bring them about and will ultimately prove to be counterproductive in terms of our national security as we alienate allies, threaten our scientific cutting edge and undermine the major contribution universities make to the national economy.”
There are reportedly around 6,800 international students enrolled at Harvard, representing around 27% of the student body.
In April, the Trump administration froze over $2.2 billion in federal grants and about $60 million in contracts to Harvard University. This freeze targeted funding tied to governance, admissions, and diversity disputes. Harvard responded by filing a lawsuit against multiple federal agencies, including Health and Human Services, and Education, arguing the freeze violates academic freedom and constitutional rights. The university claims the action is retaliatory and unlawful, aiming to punish Harvard for resisting federal demands. The lawsuit has sparked nationwide debate over government overreach and the autonomy of academic institutions.
Here is an overview of Trump’s executive action against international students at Harvard:
On June 4, President Trump issued a proclamation restricting the entry of foreign nationals from certain countries to protect the United States from terrorism and other national security threats. The proclamation identifies countries that have not met U.S. requirements for information sharing, identity verification, and cooperation on law enforcement and immigration matters. As a result, nationals from these countries face full or partial entry restrictions.
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The proclamation outlines exemptions, including lawful permanent residents, individuals with valid visas or travel documents, dual nationals traveling on passports from unrestricted countries, and certain diplomatic or international organization representatives. Additionally, a waiver process is available for individuals who demonstrate that denial of entry would cause undue hardship, does not threaten national security or public safety, and is in the national interest.
This action is part of a broader effort to improve vetting procedures and ensure that foreign nationals entering the U.S. do not pose security risks. The proclamation emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in sharing information and enforcing immigration laws to prevent terrorism and protect public safety.