US Blocks Visas for New Foreign Students at Harvard

President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping ban on visas for new foreign students seeking to attend Harvard University, citing national security concerns and accusing the institution of non-compliance with federal investigations and harboring liberal bias. The executive order blocks entry of almost all international students enrolling at Harvard and allows for visa revocation of current foreign students, justified by claims that Harvard has not adequately reported misconduct by foreign nationals. This move follows a federal judge blocking a prior attempt to restrict Harvard’s enrollment of international students and seeks to bypass that ruling by invoking national security. Harvard condemned the order as illegal and retaliatory, asserting it violates First Amendment rights and harms academic freedom and international collaboration. The administration’s actions also include increased vetting of visa applicants and threaten federal funding and tax-exempt status for Harvard, intensifying an ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and the Ivy League university. The ban is scheduled for a six-month duration with a 90-day review to determine if it should be extended.