Tensions between the Donald Trump administration and Harvard University reached a new level following the announcement of an unprecedented measure: the immediate ban on the institution admitting foreign students. The news, initially reported by The New York Times and later confirmed by various media outlets, was formalized through a letter signed by Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security.

“I am writing to inform you that, effective immediately, the certification of Harvard University’s Exchange Visitor and Student Program is revoked,” states the document sent by Noem to the prestigious university.

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This announcement marks another chapter in the months-long conflict brewing between the Republican administration and Harvard, mainly due to disagreements over the handling of free speech, antisemitism on university campuses, and the institution’s inclusion policies.

What will happen to international students at Harvard?

According to the letter from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the decision means that Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students, and those currently studying must transfer to another institution or lose their legal status. The measure directly affects hundreds of international students who are legally residing in the United States on student visas and who are now forced to seek alternative academic options or face deportation.

The Trump administration had previously ordered the revocation of visas and the expulsion of several foreign students for participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on U.S. campuses. This policy has been widely criticized by academic sectors and civil rights advocates, who view these actions as a deliberate attempt to censor and ideologically control university life.

What is the origin of the conflict between Harvard and the Trump administration?

The clash between the White House and Harvard began to escalate in mid-April when the DHS demanded that the university hand over “relevant information” on all foreign students who, while on U.S. soil, had participated in “dangerous” or “illegal” activities. After Harvard refused to comply with this request, the administration threatened sanctions that have now materialized.

Kristi Noem accused the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.” She also criticized the financial model of U.S. universities, which she claims benefit “from higher tuition fees paid by international students to boost their multi-billion-dollar budgets.” In this context, Noem asserted: “It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students.”

What impact will this ban have on Harvard’s prestige and funding?

In addition to the blow to its international policy, Harvard is facing a financial onslaught of historic proportions. The White House recently announced a $450 million cut in federal subsidies to the university from eight different agencies. This reduction adds to the previously frozen $2.2 billion, implemented in April due to ideological disagreements.

Donald Trump, in a post on his social network Truth, also threatened to eliminate Harvard’s tax-exempt status, a benefit enjoyed by many educational institutions for their public service role. “Remember: tax-exempt status is entirely dependent on acting in the public interest!” the president wrote.

This series of measures jeopardizes not only the operation of numerous academic and research programs but also Harvard’s international reputation as a center of educational excellence.

What other accusations has Harvard faced from the Trump administration?

Harvard University currently finds itself at the center of several controversies driven by the Trump administration. Among them is the accusation of possible civil rights violations due to its handling of pro-Palestinian protests on campus. The White House has also targeted the Harvard Law Review, one of the world’s most prestigious legal publications, for alleged discrimination in its selection of authors and content based on “woke” ideological criteria—a term frequently used pejoratively by Trump supporters.

This stance is part of a broader crusade by the current Republican government against what it calls “the progressive agenda” in educational institutions, including issues like racial diversity, gender equity, and critical freedom of speech.

With information from NYT and EFE agency.