Trump halts foreign student entry to Harvard

US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order banning foreign students from entering the US to study at Harvard University.

Announcing the executive order on Wednesday, President Trump also stated he has authorized Secretary of State Marco Rubio to initiate the revocation of visas for the university’s foreign students.

Trump stated in the announcement that this decision was prompted by the university’s refusal to share information regarding “known illegal activities” committed by its international students.

The order was issued even though a federal judge in May had granted a preliminary injunction. This injunction prevented the administration from barring Harvard’s enrollment of international students, as part of an effort to penalize the school over allegations of “antisemitism and civil rights violations.”

The university states that it is working to resolve these issues on its own.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement on X, “Admission to study at an ‘elite’ university in the United States is a privilege, not a right. The Department of Justice will vigorously defend the President’s decision to suspend the entry of new foreign students to Harvard University on national security grounds.”

In response, Harvard Spokesperson Jason Newton contended, “This is another illegal retaliatory step by the administration that infringes upon Harvard’s rights guaranteed under the First Amendment of the Constitution. Harvard will continue to protect its international students.”

Trump’s feud with the university began in April when Harvard rejected the White House’s demand to revise its admissions and disciplinary policies, citing violations of free speech rights. The White House responded by withholding more than $2 billion in federal grants.

In early May, Trump announced plans to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status. Later that month, he proposed distributing the university’s $3 billion endowment to vocational schools.

International students make up approximately 27% of Harvard’s student population. The White House first requested in late May the cancellation of the university’s participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows universities to enroll foreign students. Harvard sued the Department of Homeland Security, and a federal judge immediately granted a temporary restraining order.

During a hearing last week, US District Judge Allison Burroughs indicated her intention to issue a preliminary injunction. Such an order would bar the Trump administration from taking further punitive measures against Harvard as the lawsuit concerning the foreign student matter proceeds.

Although the Trump administration opposes any such injunction, it requested that the Department of Justice and Harvard lawyers agree on the wording for a potential court order. The two sides have not yet responded to the judge.