US President Donald Trump on Wednesday suspended for an initial six months the entry of foreign students seeking to study or join exchange programmes at Harvard University, citing national security risks and what he called the institution’s “extensive entanglements” with foreign governments.
In a presidential proclamation issued from the White House, Trump declared it “detrimental to US interests” to continue allowing foreign nationals to attend the Ivy League school, accusing Harvard of failing to cooperate with federal authorities and “flouting the civil rights of its students and faculty.”
“Considering these facts,” Trump stated, “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.”
The order, which can be extended beyond the initial six-month period, also directs the Secretary of State to consider revoking existing visas for international students already studying at Harvard. It further halts entry for those participating in academic exchange programmes hosted by the university.
The announcement marks a dramatic escalation in the Trump administration’s ongoing legal confrontation with Harvard, which began in April when the university refused to comply with a series of federal demands. Most recently, a judge blocked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from banning foreign students from the campus — a ruling that was expected to shield students from imminent removal.
In response to Trump’s latest move, Harvard issued a sharp rebuttal, calling the proclamation “yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights,” according to Reuters.
University officials emphasised their continued commitment to protecting international students. “We will explore all legal avenues to ensure our students can pursue their education without fear of unjust political interference,” a spokesperson said.
The White House maintains that the decision stems from security concerns, accusing Harvard of underreporting threats from foreign nationals and failing to provide “sufficient information to DHS about foreign students’ known illegal or dangerous activities.” Officials claim the university submitted “deficient data on only three students.”
Trump’s proclamation comes amid broader efforts by his administration to clamp down on academic institutions over perceived national security risks and accusations of antisemitism, particularly in response to pro-Palestinian protests across US campuses.
Earlier Wednesday, the administration threatened to revoke Columbia University’s accreditation over similar allegations. Trump has also vowed to “aggressively” revoke visas for Chinese students, accusing them of espionage and ideological subversion.
The policy casts immediate uncertainty over the futures of thousands of international students at Harvard. For the 2024–2025 academic year, the university enrolled nearly 7,000 foreign students, comprising approximately 27% of its student body.
Last week, during Harvard’s graduation ceremony, a Chinese student addressed growing tensions and called for unity, just days after Trump’s vow to limit Chinese student visas made headlines.
The proclamation also follows a series of federal actions targeting Harvard, including the freezing of billions in federal funding and the revocation of DHS certification needed to enrol international students — a decision a federal judge blocked last month. That same judge reaffirmed her ruling last week, granting students temporary protection while litigation continues.
For now, however, Trump’s latest proclamation has reignited uncertainty for students, universities, and legal observers alike, with many anticipating swift court challenges.
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