The Trump administration has suspended the admission of international students to Harvard University, the oldest university in the US. This decision further exacerbated tensions between the White House and the university.
The country's Minister of Internal Security, Christie Noem, announced on social media the cancellation of Harvard University's student and exchange program certificates. According to him, such a measure was taken because the university "did not comply with the laws."
"This should be a warning to all universities in the country," Noem wrote on the X platform.
Harvard called the decision "illegal."
"We maintain our commitment to accepting international students and scholars. They come from more than 140 countries and enrich not only the university, but the whole country," the university said in a statement.
The decision may affect more than 6,700 international students studying at the university. This is about 27 percent of Harvard students.
The news spread rapidly across the campus and caused particular concern and discontent among the graduating students.
"This was very unexpected news for us. Most of us get our diplomas in five days. Now it's unclear whether we will stay or work in the US," Australian student Sarah Davis said in an interview with the BBC.
"International students are being made victims of political confrontation," says Swedish student Leo Gerdén.
Earlier, the Trump administration put pressure on other prestigious universities, such as Columbia University, and Harvard decided to take official action in April. The university had announced it would sue the White House.
The White House demanded that Harvard change its hiring, admission, and teaching processes, as well as strengthen anti-Semitism measures. Otherwise, he threatened to cancel the university's tax benefits and freeze billions of dollars in grants.
The Department of Internal Security also ordered the university to provide comprehensive documentation on international students. When Harvard refused, the authorities officially revoked its right to admit international students.
Now, students holding F- or J- visas will be forced to transfer to other universities. To recover this situation, the university must submit the required documents within 72 hours.
These documents include disciplinary actions against all international students over the past five years, video, audio, and electronic recordings of their illegal or dangerous activities on campus.
Meanwhile, a federal judge in California has temporarily suspended the Trump administration's decision to revoke international student visas.
"We came here for freedom of speech, academic freedom, and free exchange of ideas," said Leo Gerdén.
