Donald Trump Blocks Harvard University from Enrolling Foreign Students

Donald Trump’s administration is set to put more than a quarter of Harvard’s student community in danger of losing their legal status. This comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) engages in a dispute with the university over the provision of foreign students’ records. The school is also in a legal battle with the government over policy demands on diversity and inclusion, which it sees as a violation of human rights.

Harvard Loses Ability to Admit Foreign Students

In an escalation of its ongoing conflict with Harvard University, Donald Trump’s administration has revoked the institution’s ability to admit international students. The decision, announced by the Department of Homeland Security, follows Harvard’s refusal to comply with federal demands to provide student records and change policies related to campus activism.

The move will also affect current international students, who will now be forced to either transfer to other institutions or risk losing their legal status in the United States. According to AP News, the 6,800 international students at Harvard make up 27.2% of the university’s student body, coming from over 100 countries. Graduate students, in particular, now face significant uncertainty.

DHS stated that Harvard could regain its ability to enroll foreign students if it meets a list of demands within 72 hours. These include handing over disciplinary records and surveillance footage of student protests.

Harvard Fights Back

Harvard has condemned the federal decision as “unlawful,” claiming it undermines academic freedom and research. The university is already involved in legal proceedings over funding freezes and federal challenges to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. According to the BBC, this move is seen as the latest in a string of efforts by the Trump administration to reshape the role of elite institutions in American education.

As the 2025-2026 academic year approaches, affected students are now scrambling to find alternative institutions or face potential deportation. The crackdown has sparked broader concerns about the future of international education in the United States, with fears that other top-tier universities might face similar government interventions.

Public Reaction

The decision has ignited widespread debate online. Social media users have voiced concern and outrage:

• @mooncakejiuqi: “How can they enforce what a private university does?”
• @lovetricialee: “Imagine if this energy was focused on cancer, school shootings or healthcare.”
• @lololongan: “Harvard has the best legal minds—time to keep Trump in court until he chokes.”
• @ambakshi01: “As an international Harvard alum, I’m ashamed. Harvard is defined by its diversity.”
• @tomi_gonzealba: “He was elected, but rules like a dictator.”
• @amberokum: “Trump is bitter because Harvard, Columbia, and Stanford rejected Barron.”

Tense Diplomatic Exchanges

This comes just days after another international incident. On May 21, Trump reportedly confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office over a controversial video involving Julius Malema. The tense exchange highlights growing diplomatic strain, particularly around issues of race, governance, and international image.

As Harvard stands its ground, the outcome of this standoff could redefine how far federal agencies can go in shaping the landscape of American academia.

In other news:Kenya to Enforce Mandatory ID Verification for All Social Media Users

Donald Trump Blocks Harvard University from Enrolling Foreign Students