The Trump Administration has delivered a significant blow to Harvard’s wallet with a move that will likely get challenged in court.
As The New York Post reported, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem moved to kick out thousands of foreign students enrolled at Harvard University by terminating Harvard’s international student program. She explained this was the administration’s way of holding the Ivy League school accountable for its violent, Anti-Semitic, and pro-China activities.
“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” Noem wrote on X. “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.”
“Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused,” she added. “They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law.”
“Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.”
The New York Post notesquarter of Harvard University’s student body.
Such a move will potentially cost the college millions of dollars, considering that international students often pay full tuition (up to $87,000 annually at Harvard with room and board) and help the university subsidize domestic students and fuel research as the New York Times notes.
A Harvard representative responded to Noem’s announcement by slamming the move as undermining “Harvard’s academic and research mission.”
“We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University — and this nation — immeasurably,” the spokesperson stated.
“We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” the spokesperson added.
The Trump administration’s latest salvo against Harvard comes after freezing >more than $2.7 billion in multi-year research grants and $60 million in contracts for the school last month. This move was made after months of Harvard coddling violence against Jewish students on campus.
The Post also reports that back on April 16, Noem sent a letter to Maureen Martin, Harvard’s director of immigration services, demanding information about SEVP students’ criminal histories.
Read the full article here