On June 4, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation suspending the entry of new foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard University. The suspension, initially set for six months but subject to extension, blocks new admissions of international students under F, M, and J visa categories and directs the Secretary of State to consider revoking visas of current Harvard students who meet specified criteria.
The White House justified the move by citing national security concerns, accusing Harvard of having “a history of concerning foreign ties and radicalism” and “extensive entanglements with foreign adversaries, including China.” The proclamation also alleged a rise in campus crime and claimed the university failed to provide sufficient information to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding foreign students’ illegal or dangerous activities.
This action escalates an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and Harvard, which began in May when DHS attempted to revoke Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively barring the university from enrolling international students. A federal judge temporarily blocked that attempt, but the new presidential proclamation seeks to bypass the court ruling by exercising executive authority.
Harvard University condemned the proclamation as “yet another illegal retaliatory step” violating its First Amendment rights and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its international student community, which comprises about 27 percent of its student body.
The administration’s concerns include allegations that Harvard has not adequately disciplined certain categories of conduct violations on campus and has withheld information about foreign students’ activities. However, Harvard maintains that it is unaware of any criminal convictions involving international students in recent years and has been cooperating with authorities.
The proclamation is part of a broader pattern of heightened scrutiny and restrictions on international students from certain countries, particularly China, amid national security concerns. Harvard, one of the oldest and wealthiest universities in the United States, relies heavily on international students, many of whom pay full tuition, making the ban potentially impactful both academically and financially.
This development comes amid intensified vetting procedures at U.S. consulates worldwide, including suspensions of new student visa interviews and increased social media screening for applicants.
The legal battle between Harvard and the federal government is ongoing, with significant implications for international education and U.S. immigration policy.
