US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced an immediate ban on visas for foreign students enrolled to begin studies at Harvard University, intensifying a long-standing clash with academic institutions.
In a proclamation released late in the day, Trump said the measure targets those seeking entry to the United States “solely or principally” to attend courses or exchange programmes run by Harvard.
The decision applies to all new entrants via the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and places current visa-holders under review.
“The entry of such aliens presents an unacceptable risk to our Nation’s security,” Trump said in the statement.
The White House accused Harvard of repeatedly withholding information on criminal activity involving foreign students and resisting federal oversight of its programmes.
Harvard, a frequent target of Trump’s rhetoric, has openly defied the administration’s efforts to impose stricter controls on academic operations, including recruitment and research.
Trump’s order also warned that existing international students could face revocation of their visas if concerns arise during the review process.
The move is likely to strain further relations between the government and US universities, many of which depend on international enrollment.
Harvard officials have yet to respond publicly to the directive.
Trump also accused Harvard and its affiliated campus groups of limiting opportunities for American citizens, claiming the university continued to deny “hardworking Americans” fair access.
The proclamation stated it was not in the country’s interest to “exacerbate” what it described as Harvard’s discriminatory practices against certain races, nationalities, or religious backgrounds by allowing large numbers of international students.
The Trump administration has taken a hard line on foreign students, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently pledging to step up efforts to revoke visas for Chinese nationals.
Just last week, as students marked graduation ceremonies, a federal judge extended a temporary injunction blocking Trump’s attempt to halt international student enrollment at Harvard.
