Trump Suspends Visas for Harvard Foreign Students, Citing Security and Foreign Ties

Harvard Foreign Students: In a sweeping move with global implications, President Donald Trump has ordered a six-month suspension on the entry of foreign nationals intending to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard University. The proclamation, issued Wednesday, invokes national security concerns and accuses the prestigious institution of fostering foreign entanglements and neglecting campus discipline.

This latest step intensifies the administration’s battle with Harvard, which responded by calling the directive “yet another illegal retaliatory step” and a violation of the university’s First Amendment rights. Harvard vowed to stand by its international students and fight the order through legal channels.

According to the two-page presidential directive, Harvard has shown “a history of concerning foreign ties and radicalism,” referencing alleged connections to foreign adversaries including China. It further cites FBI warnings that adversaries often use academic institutions to access sensitive information and manipulate research.

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The move comes just one week after a federal judge in Boston said she would issue a broad injunction to stop the administration from revoking Harvard’s certification to enroll foreign students. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had previously announced the department would immediately revoke Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, a decision later walked back in favor of a lengthier administrative review.

Despite the reversal, Judge Allison Burroughs indicated she would proceed with a preliminary injunction to shield Harvard’s international students from uncertainty. Following that hearing, a confidential cable seen by Reuters revealed the State Department had instructed its global consular offices to increase scrutiny of visa applicants bound for Harvard.

The Trump administration’s actions also include freezing billions in federal grants and pushing to end Harvard’s tax-exempt status—moves widely perceived as punitive. Harvard has accused the administration of retaliating after the university refused demands to alter its governance and academic direction.

Under the new directive, the US State Department is also authorized to review and potentially revoke existing academic or exchange visas of current Harvard students who fall within the scope of the order. The suspension may be extended beyond the initial six-month period, leaving thousands of students and scholars in limbo.

With roughly a quarter of its student body coming from outside the US, Harvard now faces the challenge of protecting its global community while navigating escalating political pressure.