Harvard slams Trump administration's ban on foreign student enrollment as 'unlawful'

Harvard University

Harvard University has strongly criticized a new directive from the Trump administration that revokes its authority to admit international students, describing the action as "unlawful" and warning of its damaging impact on both the institution and the nation.

This directive emerges amid escalating tensions between former President Donald Trump and the Ivy League school, with disputes arising from allegations of anti-Semitism, connections to China, and Harvard's resistance to federal oversight of its hiring and admissions processes.

Harvard stated, “This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.” The university reiterated its commitment to supporting international students and scholars, promising to provide them with necessary guidance and assistance.

Backlash from alumni and faculty

The decision has sparked backlash from the Harvard community, with faculty leaders from the university's chapter of the American Association of University Professors condemning the measure as "the latest in a string of nakedly authoritarian and retaliatory moves against America’s oldest institution of higher education." They stated, “The Trump administration is unlawfully seeking to destroy higher education in the United States. It now demands that we sacrifice our international students in the process. Universities cannot acquiesce to such extortion.”

Jason Furman, a Harvard economics professor and former advisor to the Obama administration, said, “It is impossible to imagine Harvard without our amazing international students. They are a huge benefit to everyone here, to innovation, and to the United States more broadly. I hope this is stopped quickly before the damage gets any worse.”

Karl Molden, an international student from Austria, mentioned that he had already applied to Oxford University in the UK due to concerns over the situation. “It’s definitely going to change the perception of students who might consider studying in the U.S. — the U.S. is becoming a less attractive destination for higher education,” he said.

Alice Goyer, a senior undergraduate at Harvard, told AFP, “We just got the news, so I’ve been receiving texts from many international friends. Everyone’s panicking a bit — no one knows what this will mean.”

What’s at stake for Harvard

The implications for Harvard are significant. The Trump administration’s directive follows the university’s refusal to comply with federal oversight demands regarding admissions and staffing policies. As a form of retaliation, the administration froze $2.2 billion in federal funding to the university last month and announced an additional $450 million in funding cuts earlier this week.

This ban could have substantial financial repercussions. Harvard, which has an endowment of $53.2 billion as of 2024, had 6,793 international students enrolled during the 2024–2025 academic year, accounting for nearly 27% of its total student body, reported News18. Since international students often pay higher tuition rates, the ban could negatively affect Harvard’s revenue and global reputation.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) justified the action by citing Harvard’s non-compliance in providing student records. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused the university of creating “an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.”

“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,” Noem stated. “Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. As a result, they have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification.”