Donald Trump is escalating his conflict with Harvard University. The Republican administration announced on Thursday (May 23) a ban on the enrollment of foreign students at the institution, and has given a 72-hour deadline to "comply" with the new requirements.
HDN Newsroom
The Trump administration has given Harvard a 72-hour deadline to "comply" with the new requirements, in order not to put a definitive end to the possibility of accepting students from abroad. This is a development that has shocked the United States and the world. Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers called it "illegal, vindictive and destructive" and likened the Trump administration to "tyranny." Of course, what concerns the most is what the decision means in practice for Harvard and its foreign students.
The Associated Press has compiled the main questions about Trump's decision and provides the answers.
Does the U.S. state have the power to ban Harvard enrollment?
Yes. The U.S. federal government has absolute jurisdiction over who enters the country. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the competent authority that oversees the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP), which determines which universities have the right to welcome international students.
On Thursday, DHS announced that it was removing Harvard from the program, meaning the university can no longer issue documents (I-20) necessary for student visas (I-20). Without them, it is not possible for foreign students to enter or stay in the USA.
Will students who are already at Harvard be able to graduate?
Those who complete their bachelor's degree this semester will be able to graduate normally. Christy Noem's letter clarifies that the ban will take effect from the 2025–2026 academic year. The class of 2025, i.e. those students who receive a bachelor's degree this year, are not directly affected.
But for those who have not completed their studies, things are different: they will have to transfer to another recognized institution within the U.S., or they will lose their legal residency status and will have to leave the country.
What will happen to the students who have already been admitted for the fall?
They will not be able to enroll at Harvard unless there is a change of attitude from the government or court intervention. For now, the only way out the Trump administration gives is for the university to comply within 72 hours with a set of requirements.
According to Noem, Harvard must hand over disciplinary records of foreign students, as well as audio and visual documents of protests within the university. Harvard had not previously responded to these demands, which the government cited as a reason for removing the SEVP status.
The university said it is working to provide guidance to affected students.
Has this happened before?
The Ministry of Homeland Security has the right to remove institutions from the SEVP. Usually this is for formal, administrative reasons: lack of accreditation, inadequate facilities, insufficient teaching staff, or even the fact that the institution does not operate as a "genuine educational institution", according to the law.
However, the possibility of enrolling foreign students for political or ideological reasons has never again been revoked. As Sarah Spritzer, vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education, points out: "I've never seen such action for reasons beyond the administrative provisions of the law. This is unprecedented."
What triggered Donald Trump's decision?
The conflict began in early April, when Harvard refused to implement government guidelines to curb pro-Palestinian protests and repeal DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies.
This was followed by cuts of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants, particularly in research projects funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other agencies. Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the government over the funding freeze.
Donald Trump, meanwhile, has expressed a desire to repeal Harvard's tax exemption, hurting his ability to attract donations from wealthy tax-advantaged supporters through donations to nonprofits.
The Trump administration has denounced Harvard as a place that "fosters anti-Semitism" and fosters so-called woke culture, marginalizing conservative voices. Top Republicans have said that universities should focus on vocational training and responding to the needs of the economy.
