International students banned from Harvard; Trump's feud with school escalates
Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday that bars international students from studying or taking part in exchange programs at Harvard University for at least six months. The decision escalates his continuing dispute with the university.
Trump’s proclamation cites national security concerns as a justification for banning international students from studying at Harvard. "I have determined that the entry of the class of foreign nationals described above is detrimental to the interests of the United States because, in my judgment, Harvard’s conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers," reads part of Trump’s order.
In turn, the Ivy League school responded with a statement calling the proclamation a "yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights." Additionally, the school’s authorities vowed to "continue to protect its international students." As "The Guardian" points out, approximately a quarter of all Harvard students are foreigners.
In addition to the six-month suspension, which can be prolonged further, Trump’s proclamation also instructs the U.S. State Department to evaluate the revocation of academic or exchange visas for any current Harvard students who fall under the criteria outlined in the order.
Feud escalation
The presidential order further escalates the feud between the President and the school. The Trump administration has already frozen billions of dollars in grants and federal funding, prompting Harvard to revoke its tax-exempt status, which has triggered a wave of legal challenges.
Donald Trump’s second term as President has been marked by his administration’s crackdown on immigration. On Wednesday, the President also signed a proclamation banning travellers from 12 countries from entering the US and partially restricting travel for another seven nations.
