CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Diya TV) — In a dramatic escalation of his long-running feud with elite universities, President Donald Trump issued a sweeping proclamation Wednesday blocking international students from entering the United States to attend Harvard University. The order comes just days after a federal judge halted the administration’s earlier attempt to revoke Harvard’s ability to enroll international students.
“I have determined that the entry of the class of foreign nationals described above is detrimental to the interests of the United States,” Trump declared, claiming Harvard’s conduct had made it an “unsuitable destination” for foreign students and researchers.
The proclamation, effective immediately, specifically targets foreign nationals applying to Harvard under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), suspending their entry for at least 90 days, with a possible extension of up to six months. The order does not apply to students attending other U.S. universities, creating a rare, school-specific immigration policy.
The decision has sparked backlash from Harvard and broader academic circles. “This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights,” a university spokesperson told TIME magazine. The university emphasized its commitment to protecting international students, who make up nearly 25% of Harvard’s 7,000-member student body.
The proclamation directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to consider revoking visas of current Harvard international students on a case-by-case basis. Exceptions can be made for individuals deemed to have national interest significance.
The administration’s move follows the State Department’s recent order to embassies worldwide to intensify scrutiny of student visa applicants headed to Harvard, underlining the word “any” when referencing purposes of travel. The department also paused new student visa interviews globally to evaluate applicants’ social media accounts amid concerns about terrorism and antisemitism.
Trump’s proclamation accuses Harvard of a range of failings, from rising campus crime rates to a lack of cooperation with federal security agencies. It claims Harvard ignored DHS requests for data on foreign students allegedly involved in “known illegal activity,” “violent threats,” and “civil rights violations.” It also asserts the university has failed to adequately police misconduct.
The order cites a Harvard Crimson report that revealed the university received more than $150 million in funding from foreign governments, more than any other Ivy League institution. A university spokesperson previously explained that these funds support financial aid and operational costs. The administration also invoked a recent House Select Committee letter alleging that Harvard hosted and trained members of a Chinese Communist Party paramilitary group.
In a broader swipe at Harvard’s policies, the proclamation referenced the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which declared race-based admissions unconstitutional. It alleges the university continues to “deny hardworking Americans equal opportunities” while admitting students from countries hostile to the U.S.
If enforced, the policy could have severe financial and reputational impacts on Harvard, which relies heavily on tuition revenue from international students. Annual costs can reach up to $87,000 for undergraduates and $102,000 for some graduate programs.
Other global universities have already expressed willingness to accept displaced students. Still, the move adds another layer to the Trump Administration’s contentious relationship with U.S. higher education, especially elite institutions seen as resistant to its agenda.
This is not the first time the administration has attempted to curtail international student access. In recent years, efforts to cancel student visas and restrict Chinese students over national security concerns have made headlines, though many were later reversed.
For now, Harvard vows to keep fighting. “International students and scholars are vital to the University’s academic mission and to the nation,” the university said in a previous statement, adding that it will continue advocating for their rights and inclusion.
