President Donald Trump has issued a proclamation suspending the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard University for an initial six-month period.
The directive, citing national security concerns, prohibits new international students from enrolling at the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based university.
Additionally, the proclamation directs the U.S. State Department to review existing academic or exchange visas of current Harvard students, with the possibility of revocations.
The suspension comes amid a broader conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard, the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university.
On May 22, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the revocation of Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, which allows the university to enroll international students.
This move was blocked by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs on May 27, 2025, prompting the administration to pursue a lengthier administrative challenge.
Harvard, where international students comprise about 25% of the student body, called the proclamation “yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights.”
The university vowed to protect its international students, arguing that the administration is retaliating against its refusal to comply with demands to control its governance, curriculum, and faculty ideology.
The proclamation follows other aggressive measures against Harvard, including frozen federal grants and threats to its tax-exempt status.
The administration has also targeted Columbia University, accusing it of violating anti-discrimination laws related to harassment of Jewish students during protests against Israel's ongoing genocide.
These actions signal a broader crackdown on elite academic institutions perceived as non-compliant with the administration’s policies.
The suspension, which may be extended beyond six months, disrupts plans for prospective Harvard students and threatens the status of those already enrolled.
The ongoing legal and administrative disputes underscore a deepening rift between the administration and Ivy League universities.