President Donald Trump recently signed a proclamation to suspend international visas for new students at Harvard University amid an ongoing battle between his administration and the Ivy League college. The proclamation, titled “Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University,” prohibits new Harvard students from entering the United States under student (F), vocational (M), and exchange visitor (J) visas. It also directs the Secretary of State to consider revoking existing visas for current Harvard students who meet the criteria outlined in the proclamation.
The proclamation accuses Harvard of failing to address certain conduct violations on campus and alleges that U.S. adversaries, particularly the Chinese Communist Party, are exploiting the student visa program for improper purposes. The Trump administration claims that Harvard has not cooperated with requests for information about foreign students’ potential illegal activities, undermining the government’s ability to ensure compliance with federal law.
In response to the proclamation, Harvard released a statement asserting its commitment to protecting its international students and denouncing the administration’s actions as illegal and retaliatory. The university claims that the move violates its First Amendment rights and is part of a broader effort by the administration to target the institution.
The proclamation comes in the wake of a legal battle between Harvard and the Department of Homeland Security over the school’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). A U.S. District Court Judge had previously blocked the DHS from revoking Harvard’s SEVP certification and ordered the administration to refrain from making any changes to the international student visa program.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had issued a directive to terminate Harvard’s SEVP certification due to the school’s alleged refusal to provide conduct records for foreign students. Harvard has defended its actions, accusing the administration of retaliation after the university declined to comply with demands earlier this year, resulting in the freezing of federal funding.
In addition to the visa suspension, the White House has accused Harvard of failing to address anti-Semitic discrimination on campus and fostering ties with the Chinese Communist Party. The university has filed a lawsuit to reclaim the frozen funding and has maintained that its actions are in accordance with its commitment to academic freedom and diversity.
Despite the ongoing legal battle and accusations from the administration, Harvard remains steadfast in its defense of its policies and commitment to its international student community. The university continues to uphold its values of academic excellence and diversity, while also advocating for its rights to independent decision-making and institutional autonomy.
