Harvard University has vowed not to surrender its independence after the Trump administration renewed threats to restrict foreign student enrollment over visa reporting demands.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Harvard will lose its ability to enroll foreign students if it fails to meet new requirements to share information on certain visa holders. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also terminated two grants totaling more than $2.7Â million, citing concerns over alleged noncompliance.
Noem’s letter to Harvard demanded records on "illegal and violent activities" by foreign student visa holders by April 30, warning that the university would forfeit its enrollment privileges without full compliance.
In response, a Harvard spokesperson said the university will comply with legal obligations while defending its constitutional rights and institutional autonomy.
Last month, the Trump administration began reviewing $9 billion in federal contracts and grants to Harvard. It later froze $2.3 billion in funding and called for sweeping policy changes — from mask mandates to diversity, equity and inclusion programs — as conditions for continued support.
President Trump also threatened to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status. According to reports, the IRS is preparing to rescind that status, a move Harvard warns would jeopardize financial aid and critical medical research.
Human rights and academic freedom advocates say the crackdown raises serious free speech concerns on campus.
Other leading institutions, including Columbia, Princeton, Brown, Cornell and Northwestern, have faced or could face similar funding cuts tied to pro-Palestinian protests. Columbia was the first to lose federal support, with $400Â million withheld last month.
The administration has also revoked hundreds of visas and threatened deportations for foreign protesters, intensifying a nationwide debate over security, academic expression and civil rights.
With deadlines looming, Harvard and its peers are preparing for high-stakes negotiations that could redefine the future of higher education in the US.
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Harvard will 'not surrender' as Trump threatens foreign student ban
cgtn.com
