Trump restricts entry of foreign nationals seeking to attend Harvard

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday evening to restrict the admission of international students to Harvard University over national security concerns.

"Admission into the United States to attend, conduct research, or teach at our Nation’s institutions of higher education is a privilege granted by our Government, not a guarantee. That privilege is necessarily tied to the host institution’s compliance and commitment to following Federal law. Harvard University has failed in this respect, among many others," the proclamation stated.

Among the failures cited by Trump are rising crime rates at Harvard and the school’s failure to "discipline at least some categories of conduct violations on campus," Harvard’s refusal to comply with requests for information from DHS on illegal activity on campus, poor data sharing when the school does provide information, and the school continuing to "flout the civil rights of its students and faculty."

The proclamation also noted that in the past five years, Harvard has received over $150 million in contributions from foreign governments, and over $1 billion from foreign sources. Since 2015, the school has received over $150 million from China alone, and has hosted and trained members of a Chinese Communist Party paramilitary organization.

"Considering these facts, I have determined that it is necessary to restrict the entry of foreign nationals who seek to enter the United States solely or principally to participate in a course of study at Harvard University or in an exchange visitor program hosted by Harvard University," Trump wrote, noting that such restrictions are allowed under US Code and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

"I have determined that the entry of the class of foreign nationals described above is detrimental to the interests of the United States because, in my judgment, Harvard’s conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers. Until such time as the university shares the information that the Federal Government requires to safeguard national security and the American public, it is in the national interest to deny foreign nationals access to Harvard under the auspices of educational exchange."

The proclamation ordered a suspension of foreign nationals being allowed into the US who are seeking to attend Harvard through the Student Exchange Visa Program (SEVP), with the proclamation expiring in six months. The proclamation also orders the Secretary of State to consider revoking the F, M, or J visas of international students currently attending the school.

In response to the proclamation, Harvard wrote in a statement, "This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights. Harvard will continue to protect its international students." 

The school’s international office noted in a banner on its website that a May 29 ruling "allows the University to continue enrolling international students and scholars while the case moves forward. Harvard will continue to take steps to protect the rights of our international students and scholars, members of our community who are vital to the University’s academic mission and community—and whose presence here benefits our country immeasurably."

The court ruling came in response to the Department of Homeland Security stating that it had revoked the school’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement, "This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country."