Trump administration to Harvard: Comply or lose foreign students and billions in funding
The Trump administration has warned Harvard University that it may lose its ability to enroll foreign students if it fails to comply with new federal demands concerning visa holders. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has asked the university to submit records relating to what it called the “illegal and violent activities” of some foreign student visa holders.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced the move on April 17, saying Harvard must provide the requested information by April 30 or face serious consequences, including the termination of its ability to admit international students. “If Harvard cannot verify it is in full compliance with its reporting requirements, the university will lose the privilege of enrolling foreign students,” Noem said in a statement, as quoted by Reuters.
Federal funding and visa crackdown
As part of the administration’s actions, two DHS grants worth more than $2.7 million to Harvard have already been terminated. Noem said that with Harvard’s $53.2 billion endowment, “Harvard can fund its own chaos – DHS won’t,” adding that an “anti-American, pro-Hamas ideology” existed on campus, as reported by Reuters.
The Trump administration is also conducting a nationwide effort to review and revoke visas of foreign students participating in or connected to pro-Palestinian protests. According to Reuters, hundreds of student visas across the US have been cancelled as part of this initiative. Trump officials argue that these protests, including those held at Harvard, are antisemitic and sympathetic to Hamas, following a deadly October 2023 attack by the Palestinian group.
Harvard defends independence and free speech
In response, a Harvard spokesperson said the university was reviewing the letter from DHS and remained committed to complying with all legal obligations. However, the university also emphasized that it would “not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” as stated earlier in the week and reiterated in the spokesperson’s comment to Reuters.
Harvard has previously asserted its opposition to antisemitism and other forms of prejudice while upholding academic freedom and the right to protest. Human rights advocates, according to Reuters, have raised serious concerns that the administration’s response may be infringing on free speech and academic liberties.
Additional financial and legal pressures
This warning follows a broader push by the Trump administration to pressure universities over campus protests and cultural policies. The administration recently froze $2.3 billion in federal funding to Harvard after the university rejected several demands, including the removal of DEI programs and implementation of a campus mask ban.
On April 16, Trump also threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status. According to Reuters, the IRS is currently reviewing the matter and a final decision is expected soon. Harvard responded by saying such a move would be unprecedented and harm student financial aid and key medical research programs.
