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U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation suspending the issuance of international visas for new students at Harvard University, marking a significant escalation in the administration’s efforts to restrict foreign nationals from attending the institution.
The measure temporarily bars nearly all new international students from entering the U.S. on the most commonly used student and academic exchange visas—F, M, and J. It also instructs the Secretary of State to consider revoking those visas for current Harvard students who meet the proclamation’s criteria.
Harvard, where international students comprise about 27% of the student body, now faces renewed uncertainty just days after a federal judge blocked an earlier attempt by the administration to limit the university’s enrollment of foreign students.
A university spokesperson condemned the proclamation as “another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights,” affirming the institution’s commitment to protecting its international students.
The White House framed the order as a national security measure, alleging that Harvard maintains foreign ties that promote radicalism. Officials accused the university of withholding information about international students and underreporting disciplinary data, citing a report that included only three students. The administration also criticized Harvard for failing to address antisemitism on campus and for continuing to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
The proclamation exempts individuals whose entry is deemed to be in the national interest and does not apply to students attending other U.S. universities through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). It is set to last six months unless extended, with the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security tasked to assess the need for extension within 90 days.
According to the proclamation, Harvard’s conduct has rendered it “an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers.”
China, the second-largest source of international students in the U.S., swiftly condemned the decision. A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry emphasized the mutual benefits of educational cooperation and criticized the move as political interference.
This new policy follows a recent court ruling in which a U.S. District Court judge barred the Trump administration from implementing changes to Harvard’s international student visa program. That ruling responded to an earlier Department of Homeland Security attempt to revoke Harvard’s SEVP certification, which was based on the university’s refusal to share conduct records of foreign students requested by DHS.
Harvard has accused the government of ignoring procedural requirements and described the action as retaliatory, linked to the university’s resistance to ideological policy changes.
The administration has repeatedly clashed with Harvard over campus programming, hiring, admissions practices, and efforts to address antisemitism and diversity policies. The U.S. Department of Education has warned universities that failing to protect Jewish students or considering race in institutional decisions could result in loss of federal funding.
The administration has also targeted Columbia University, arguing that it no longer meets accreditation standards due to alleged failure to protect Jewish students.
Tensions escalated after Trump officials sent a letter to Harvard on March 31, announcing a review of all $9 billion in federal contracts and grants awarded to the university. Harvard subsequently filed a lawsuit challenging the freezing of $2.2 billion in federal funding, which it described as punitive. An additional $450 million in grants was later cut, and the administration threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status.
Last week, the White House ordered all federal agencies to cancel the remaining Harvard contracts, totaling approximately $100 million.
