June 5, 2025 – Washington, D.C. — In a move that significantly escalates tensions between the White House and one of America’s most prestigious academic institutions, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a proclamation suspending, for an initial period of six months, the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard University.
Citing national security concerns, the presidential directive alleges that Harvard has maintained “concerning foreign ties and radicalism,” and claims the institution is entangled with foreign adversaries, particularly China. The proclamation further accuses the university of failing to adequately discipline campus conduct violations and of withholding information from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding international students allegedly involved in illegal or dangerous activities.
The order empowers the U.S. State Department to deny new visas for prospective international students bound for Harvard and calls on the agency to consider revoking existing academic or exchange visas for current enrollees who fall under the directive’s criteria. The suspension may be extended beyond the initial six-month period.
Harvard Condemns Action as Retaliatory and Unconstitutional
In a swift response, Harvard University issued a statement denouncing the proclamation as “yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights.”
“Harvard will continue to protect its international students,” the university affirmed.
The proclamation follows a series of actions by the Trump administration targeting Harvard, including freezing billions of dollars in federal funding, initiating a review of its tax-exempt status, and seeking greater control over the university’s curriculum, governance, and institutional ideology. Harvard has consistently pushed back, framing these moves as political retaliation against its refusal to align with federal directives on academic freedom and institutional autonomy.
Legal Battle Intensifies
Wednesday’s directive comes just one week after U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, sitting in Boston, indicated she would issue a broad preliminary injunction preventing the federal government from revoking Harvard’s ability to enroll international students. Her comments came in the wake of a legal challenge brought by the university after DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced on May 22 that Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification had been revoked, effectively barring it from enrolling foreign students.
The DHS initially stood by the revocation, only to pivot days later, stating it would pursue a longer administrative process instead. Nevertheless, Judge Burroughs confirmed her intention to proceed with a longer-term injunction to ensure continued protections for Harvard’s international student body, which accounts for approximately 25% of total enrollment.
An internal State Department cable, viewed by Reuters, revealed that following the court hearing, U.S. consular missions worldwide were instructed to initiate enhanced screening procedures for any visa applicants planning to travel to Harvard.
Broader Implications and National Security Claims
The White House maintains that Harvard has become a vulnerable conduit for foreign influence and espionage. The proclamation references longstanding FBI warnings that adversarial nations often exploit American universities to obtain sensitive information, infiltrate research programs, and disseminate disinformation.
It also cites an alleged rise in on-campus crime and the university’s purported failure to address certain behavioral infractions, although specific evidence to support these claims has not been publicly detailed.
Critics argue the administration’s sweeping action constitutes an overreach and could set a dangerous precedent for academic freedom and institutional independence. Legal analysts expect the dispute to continue through the courts, with Harvard’s case potentially serving as a bellwether for other U.S. universities that host large numbers of international students.
As the legal and political battle intensifies, the fate of thousands of current and prospective Harvard students from around the world hangs in the balance.
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