April 17, 2025

In a significant escalation, the Trump administration has warned that Harvard University could be barred from enrolling foreign students unless it complies with new federal oversight demands. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Harvard must fully adhere to its reporting obligations, or risk losing its privilege to host international students.

This move is part of a broader effort by former President Donald Trump to challenge the university’s tax-exempt status and perceived political bias. The DHS criticized Harvard’s handling of recent campus unrest following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, accusing the institution of harboring “foreign visa-holding rioters” and allowing antisemitic sentiments to flourish.

“Harvard can fund its own chaos—with a $53.2 billion endowment, DHS won’t,” the agency noted, highlighting concerns over the university’s independence and alleged ideological slant.

Trump has previously proposed freezing $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard and suggested the university be taxed like a political entity due to what he calls its “radical ideology.” In a scathing Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “Harvard should lose its tax-exempt status… it can no longer be considered a place of real learning.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem further fueled the controversy by announcing the termination of two DHS grants worth over $2.7 million to the university. “Harvard is unfit to be entrusted with taxpayer dollars,” she said, condemning its leadership for allegedly enabling antisemitism and extremist rhetoric on campus.

Despite its historic legacy—including producing 162 Nobel laureates—Harvard now finds itself at the center of a political firestorm. The administration’s stance signals increasing scrutiny of elite educational institutions and their alignment with national values.

This development may have far-reaching implications for international students and higher education in the United States.

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