Trump vs Harvard: US blocks entry of foreign students, cites national security concerns

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to block the entry of nearly all foreign students planning to attend Harvard University. The move is being described as the latest in a series of escalations aimed at curbing the Ivy League school’s international presence, which accounts for a quarter of its student body.

“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,” Trump stated in the order.

Trump relied on a federal law that gives the president authority to deny entry to foreigners whose presence is deemed contrary to national interests. On the same day, he used this provision to ban citizens from 12 countries and impose restrictions on individuals from seven others. The order also referenced laws that bar entry to foreigners linked to terrorist organisations.

Harvard pushes back, defends academic freedom

In a statement issued Wednesday night, Harvard said it remains committed to defending its international community.

“This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights,” the university said, AP reported.

The move follows months of tension between the Trump administration and Harvard. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security had earlier requested records related to alleged misconduct involving foreign students. While Harvard claimed it complied, the government found the response lacking.

Federal court ruling and renewed legal strategy

A federal court in Boston had recently blocked the Department of Homeland Security from implementing a similar measure targeting international students at Harvard. Trump’s executive order now invokes a separate legal authority to bypass that decision.

The dispute intensified after Harvard resisted federal demands for policy and governance changes. The university argued that such actions undermined its autonomy and posed a broader threat to the independence of American higher education institutions. The administration has called Harvard a “hotbed of liberalism” and accused it of allowing anti-Jewish harassment, allegations the university strongly denies.

The administration has already cut over $2.6 billion in research grants and is pursuing the cancellation of all federal contracts with Harvard. Now, the pressure extends to Harvard’s international students, who number around 7,000 and form a substantial portion of many graduate programmes.

(With inputs from AP)