Trump signs proclamation to suspend visas for new Harvard international students

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday suspending international student visas for new enrollees at Harvard University. The order bars nearly all new F, M, and J visa holders from entering the U.S. to study at Harvard.

The White House also directed the State Department to consider revoking visas for current students who meet certain criteria. This move deepens the administration’s ongoing battle with Harvard over academic policy, foreign influence, and campus protests.

International students make up 27% of Harvard’s student body. The university called the proclamation “another illegal retaliatory step” against its First Amendment rights. “Harvard will continue to protect its international students,” a university spokesperson told CNN.

The proclamation came days after a federal judge temporarily blocked the Department of Homeland Security’s effort to strip Harvard of its SEVP certification. That decision would have barred the university from hosting international students.

“This action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and undermines its academic and research mission,” said Jason Newton, a Harvard spokesperson.

The White House claims the suspension is necessary to “safeguard national security.” Officials accused Harvard of “concerning foreign ties and radicalism,” and of failing to provide accurate records for some international students. The administration also alleged that Harvard ignores antisemitism on campus and prioritizes “illegal and immoral” diversity initiatives.

Trump mentioned Harvard during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz last Friday. “I think they’re starting to behave, actually, if you want to know the truth,” Trump said.

The proclamation includes exceptions for individuals whose entry is deemed “in the national interest.” It also exempts students attending other U.S. universities through the Department of Homeland Security’s SEVP program.

According to the Institute of International Education, international students contributed $40 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023. At Harvard, international students enrolled during the 2024–2025 school year numbered 6,793. Foreign faculty and researchers brought the international academic community at the school to nearly 10,000 people.

The Chinese government responded with strong criticism. “China has always opposed the politicization of educational cooperation,” said Lin Jian, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, during a press briefing Thursday.

The new order comes amid broader action by the Trump administration. On the same day, the White House announced travel bans on citizens from 12 countries and new restrictions on another seven.

Most presidential proclamations do not have the force of law but can shape federal policy. Trump has used them frequently to announce legal action, such as on tariffs or immigration policy.

Judge Allison Burroughs, who issued the temporary order in favor of Harvard, emphasized preserving the legal status quo. “I want to make sure that the status quo is clearly maintained,” she said in court last week.

The university’s attorney, Ian Heath Gershengorn, warned the court of possible government circumvention. “We want to make sure there are no shenanigans between now and then,” he said.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Harvard’s refusal to provide requested records led to her decision to end its SEVP certification. Harvard responded that the government demanded records it doesn’t maintain.

The administration’s broader conflict with elite universities includes a separate lawsuit from Harvard. The school is fighting to restore access to $2.2 billion in frozen federal funds and protect its tax-exempt status.

Last week, the White House directed agencies to cancel all remaining federal contracts with Harvard, valued at $100 million.

The Department of Education also warned U.S. colleges to protect Jewish students and threatened accreditation for schools that fail to do so. On Wednesday, the administration declared Columbia University out of compliance with those standards.

University leaders argue that attacks on institutions like Harvard could damage the global reputation of U.S. higher education. “This is like sentence first and verdict afterwards,” Gershengorn told the court, criticizing what he described as selective treatment of the university.

The Institute of International Education reports that over 75% of foreign students in the U.S. pay for their education privately. Most are not eligible for federal aid, making them a crucial financial asset to institutions.

For now, Harvard is preparing for a prolonged legal and political fight over the future of international education in the U.S.

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