https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/6/5/trump-international-students-ban/
United States President Donald Trump issued a proclamation Wednesday evening barring foreign students from entering the United States to attend Harvard, citing national security concerns and accusing the University of failing to comply with federal agencies.
The order, effective immediately, suspends entry for students attending Harvard under student and exchange visitor visas. The move follows what the Trump administration described as Harvard’s “failure” to comply with Department of Homeland Security requests for information regarding alleged criminal and disciplinary activity involving international students.
The suspension is set to last six months, with the potential for extension.
The order suspends the entry of future international students and exchange visitors who planned to begin studies or research at Harvard, effectively halting new admissions under F, M, and J visa categories.
It also places current international students at Harvard under review, directing the Department of State to consider revoking existing visas on a case-by-case basis.
Trump’s proclamation comes less than three weeks after the Department of Homeland Security attempted to strip Harvard of its certification to enroll international students through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, a decision that would have effectively barred the University from hosting any foreign students.
Harvard sued the federal government just one day later, and a federal judge temporarily blocked the DHS action, allowing the University to continue enrolling international students.
But Trump’s Wednesday order accomplishes the DHS’ goal by presidential authority, effectively sidelining the court’s injunction and halting international student entry through executive action.
In a fact sheet supporting the order, Trump cited an oft-repeated set of grievances against the University, including allegations of campus antisemitism, support for diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, rising campus crime rates, and a failure to comply with the DHS’ records request.
He also pointed to Harvard’s financial ties to foreign governments, especially China, citing The Crimson’s reporting that the University received more than $150 million in contributions from foreign governments since 2020. In recent weeks, Trump — whose administration revoked more than 1,000 visas belonging to Chinese students and scholars during his first term — has ramped up his anti-Chinese rhetoric, suggesting that Chinese students pose a national security risk.
Trump alleged that the contributions could enable adversaries to exploit U.S. academic institutions, like Harvard, for strategic gain.