U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an immediate ban on new foreign students planning to begin their studies at Harvard University, escalating his administration’s campaign against what he called the elite institution’s resistance to federal oversight.
In a proclamation issued late Wednesday, Trump stated that entry into the U.S. will be denied to foreign nationals whose primary purpose is to attend Harvard University or to participate in an exchange program hosted by it.
“I have determined that it is necessary to restrict the entry of foreign nationals who seek to enter the United States solely or principally to participate in a course of study at Harvard University,” Trump said.
The order, which took effect immediately, also leaves current international students already enrolled at Harvard vulnerable to visa revocation following a review. According to the proclamation, this action is aimed at safeguarding national security.
“In my judgement, it presents an unacceptable risk to our Nation’s security for an academic institution to refuse to provide sufficient information, when asked, about known instances of misconduct and criminality committed by its foreign students,” Trump added.
The White House also accused Harvard of discriminatory practices, suggesting the university continues to deny equal opportunities to American citizens in favor of certain foreign student groups. “It is not in the interest of the United States to further compound Harvard’s discrimination… by further reducing opportunities for American students through excessive foreign student enrollment,” the statement read.
The move marks a sharp rebuke of Harvard, which has often clashed with Trump over academic independence and diversity. The restriction is specific to Harvard and does not currently extend to other U.S. universities.
This latest directive follows a judge’s recent decision to temporarily block Trump’s previous attempt to bar Harvard from enrolling international students, just as commencement ceremonies concluded.
