President Trump has issued a proclamation restricting foreign student visas at Harvard University, escalating a growing conflict between the administration and the prestigious Ivy League school.
In his statement, Trump emphasized that entry into the U.S. for education or research is a privilege, not a right, and claimed that Harvard had fallen short in its responsibility to comply with federal law. He asserted that the privilege of studying or teaching in the U.S. must be tied to an institution’s adherence to national standards, accusing Harvard of multiple failures in this regard.
According to a fact sheet released by the White House, new international students seeking to attend Harvard will be barred from entering the U.S. under three categories of nonimmigrant visas. In addition, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been directed to evaluate whether current foreign students at Harvard should have their visas revoked under the new directive.
The visa restrictions come as Harvard pushes back against the Trump administration’s freeze on nearly $2.5 billion in federal funds. Earlier in the week, the university requested a summary judgment from a federal court, seeking a swift ruling without a full trial. The university’s legal team argued that the federal government has been deliberately punishing Harvard during ongoing litigation and urged judicial intervention to prevent further damage.
Trump’s move is the latest in a series of actions targeting higher education institutions. In recent months, the administration has scrutinized universities for their handling of campus antisemitism and transgender athlete policies.
Citing security concerns, Trump noted that crime rates on Harvard’s campus including violent incidents have risen in recent years. He accused the university of failing to adequately address some categories of misconduct. He argued that this made it essential for the federal government to monitor, and if necessary, intervene when international students are implicated in disciplinary or criminal matters.
A Harvard spokesperson responded to the visa announcement by calling it an unlawful and retaliatory act, accusing the administration of violating the university’s First Amendment rights. The spokesperson added that Harvard remains committed to supporting its international student community.