The administration of US President Donald Trump has stopped admitting foreign students to Harvard University. Foreign students currently studying at the university have also been asked to leave elsewhere, otherwise they may lose their legal status in the United States.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that this decision was made because Harvard failed to provide information on foreign students. They alleged that the university promotes violence, anti-Semitism and works with the Chinese Communist Party.
DSHS Secretary Christy Noem said, “The opportunity to admit foreign students is not a right, it is only a privilege.”
Harvard called the decision “illegal and vindictive.” They said, “Students from more than 140 countries enrich our campus and our nation. We stand with them.”
Trump administration stops admitting foreign students
This decision is seen by many as part of the Trump administration’s anti-Harvard stance. Trump has previously criticized Harvard as “leftist.” Last month, the university also clashed with the government over federal funding.
Among the conditions were: changes in the university’s administration, the closure of the diversity office, and the transfer of foreign student data to the Department of Immigration. Harvard has sued the decision to cut off the funding.