In a significant escalation of its ongoing crackdown on American universities, the Trump administration has imposed a six-month ban on the issuance of foreign student visas for Harvard University, citing national security concerns. The move comes amid heightened tensions between the White House and several Ivy League institutions over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and recent campus protests.
President Donald Trump signed the executive order on June 5, declaring that the continued enrollment of foreign students at Harvard is “detrimental” to U.S. interests. The ban, which is effective immediately, prohibits the issuance of new F-1 student visas to international applicants intending to attend Harvard.
In addition to targeting Harvard, the administration has also turned its attention to Columbia University, threatening to revoke its accreditation. The U.S. Department of Education has launched a sweeping investigation into DEI-related policies and campus activism, with over 104 universities and colleges under federal review across all 50 states, according to several reports.
The actions follow months of pro-Palestinian demonstrations at colleges nationwide, which the administration claims have raised security and ideological concerns. Critics, however, argue the measures are politically motivated and designed to silence academic freedom.
Harvard University issued a statement condemning the visa ban, calling it a “retaliatory measure” and vowing to continue supporting its international student community. “We will not be deterred in our commitment to global scholarship and inclusion,” the university said, as reported by Reuters.
It added, “This is 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 decision has drawn widespread criticism from education advocates and international organizations, who warn it could severely impact the U.S.’s reputation as a global hub for higher education.
The Trump administration has yet to clarify whether the visa suspension will be extended beyond the six-month period.
