President Trump's Proclamation Restricts Foreign Student Visas at Harvard University

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
05/06/2025 01h36

**President Trump Restricts Foreign Student Visas at Harvard**

President Donald J. Trump has enacted a new Proclamation aimed at enhancing national security by halting the entry of foreign nationals who wish to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard University. This measure suspends the issuance of F, M, and J visas for any new students enrolling at Harvard. Additionally, the Proclamation authorizes the Secretary of State to contemplate revoking the existing visas of current Harvard students who meet specific criteria outlined in the directive.

The Proclamation specifically targets Harvard and does not affect foreign nationals attending other American universities through the Student Exchange Visa Program (SEVP), unless their entry is considered beneficial to national interests. This move follows longstanding concerns from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about foreign adversaries exploiting the accessibility of U.S. higher education for espionage, intellectual property theft, and the dissemination of misinformation.

Harvard University has been scrutinized for its perceived failures in providing adequate information to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding illegal or dangerous activities by foreign students. Reports indicate that the university has underreported infringing conduct, providing data on only three students, and potentially neglecting to enforce disciplinary measures for certain violations. Additionally, Harvard's financial ties with foreign entities have raised red flags; the institution has received over $150 million from China, fostering collaborations that may benefit military modernization efforts in China.

The Proclamation was also fueled by concerns over an increase in violent anti-Semitic incidents on Harvard's campus, allegedly perpetrated by foreign students. Harvard's focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in its admissions process has also come under fire, especially in light of a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling against race-based admission practices.

President Trump emphasized that while the U.S. welcomes international students, it is crucial that these individuals contribute positively to American society. "We want to have great students here. We just don't want students that are causing trouble," he stated. The administration is pressing Harvard to provide more detailed records regarding its foreign students, aiming to exclude those who may pose risks to national security.

Overall, the federal government has expressed dissatisfaction with Harvard's management of its international student programs, resulting in this significant policy change.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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