President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday that temporarily suspends the issuance of international student visas for new enrollees at Harvard University, the White House announced.
The move blocks nearly all new Harvard students from entering the U.S. under the most common student visa categories.
According to CNN, the proclamation also directs the Secretary of State to consider revoking the visas of current Harvard students who meet certain criteria outlined in the order. This action increases the administration’s efforts to stop foreign nationals from attending the university.
Visa Suspension Affects New and Current Harvard Students
The proclamation suspends entry for nearly all new Harvard students seeking F, M, and J visas, which are typically used by international students and academic exchange participants. The White House statement noted that current Harvard students holding these visas could have their status reviewed and potentially revoked.
Harvard’s spokesperson responded by saying the university “will continue to protect its international students,” and described the proclamation as “another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights.”
White House Cites National Security and Reporting Concerns
The White House justified the proclamation by citing concerns about Harvard’s “foreign ties and radicalism.” The announcement criticised the university for not providing sufficient information on foreign students and for allegedly underreporting disciplinary records.
The statement claimed Harvard “is either not fully reporting its disciplinary records for foreign students or is not seriously policing its foreign students.”
It also accused Harvard of failing to address antisemitism on campus and continuing to prioritise diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
The order exempts individuals whose entry is “deemed in the national interest” and does not apply to foreign students attending other U.S. universities through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
Legal Challenges and International Reactions
This action follows a recent federal court ruling by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, who blocked the administration’s earlier attempt to restrict Harvard’s international student program. The legal dispute arose after the Department of Homeland Security sought to revoke Harvard’s SEVP certification over its refusal to provide student conduct records.
Harvard argues the administration’s actions represent retaliation linked to disagreements over policy changes demanded by the government, including campus responses to antisemitism and diversity programs.
Impact on Harvard and U.S. Higher Education
Harvard’s international students make up approximately 27% of the student body. In the 2024-2025 academic year, Harvard enrolled 6,793 international students, with a total international academic population of 9,970.
University officials warn that the visa suspension could harm Harvard’s academic and research capabilities. Jason Newton, a university spokesperson, said last month the administration’s actions “threaten serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermine Harvard’s academic and research mission.”
International students often pay full tuition without federal financial aid, providing significant revenue to U.S. colleges. According to the Institute of International Education, more than 75% of international students primarily fund their education through family or personal employment, while fewer than 20% receive funding from their institutions.
Administration’s Broader Efforts Against Universities
The Trump administration has increased pressure on Harvard and other universities over campus policies and protests related to antisemitism and diversity. It has cut federal funding to Harvard by billions of dollars and threatened the university’s tax-exempt status.
On the same day as the visa proclamation, the administration also declared that Columbia University failed to meet accreditation standards for not adequately protecting Jewish students, according to CNN reports.
