Reviewing all visa holders associated with Harvard, as per reports from officials in the State Department.
The U.S. State Department is conducting an examination of visa holders affiliated with Harvard University, extending the review beyond students, according to three senior State Department officials who spoke with CNN. This move marks a significant escalation of the Trump administration's tensions with the Ivy League institution.
Previously, the administration had attempted to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll international students. However, a federal judge halted this attempt. Harvard contended that the revocation of its certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program was a retaliatory measure against the university's refusal to comply with the government's ideologically-driven policy demands.
On Tuesday, the administration directed federal agencies to cancel all remaining federal contracts with Harvard, amounting to approximately $100 million in total. The officials did not provide a reason for the review, which was first reported by Fox News.
CNN reached out to Harvard for comment on the review but did not receive a response. The State Department has stated that visa security vetting commences with each application and continues through the visa adjudication process and the validity period of the issued visa.
The recent actions follow broader efforts by the Trump administration to deter international students from studying in the U.S. Earlier this week, the State Department paused all new student and exchange visa appointments as it prepares to expand social media vetting for applicants. It remains unclear what the expanded social media vetting will entail.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to "aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students." The measures will primarily target Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying critical fields.
The administration's recent actions have created unease among international students at Harvard, which boasts a student body that is 27% international. Some students fear attending important university events such as graduation due to the uncertainty caused by the visa review and policy changes.
The ongoing review threatens to extend this uncertainty to visa holders throughout Harvard's network. If the dispute is not resolved soon, it could impact the legal status and academic plans of thousands of international students, potentially leading to ongoing legal and political battles over academic freedom and immigration policy.
CNN's Kaanita Iyer contributed to this report.
- The escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard University extend beyond politics and education-and-self-development, as the recent visa review of affiliates could affect personal-growth and career-development opportunities of international students.
- Policy-and-legislation initiatives, such as revoking Harvard's ability to enroll international students and directing federal agencies to cancel contracts with the university, underscore the administration's broader efforts to deter international students from studying in the U.S.
- War-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice may not be immediate concerns regarding the visa review, but the uncertainty caused by the dispute could initiate ongoing legal and political battles over academic freedom and immigration policy.
- As the general-news of the visa review unfolds, international students express concerns about attending important university events like graduation due to the uncertainty created by the review and policy changes.
- Learning environments at Harvard, with a diverse student body that is 27% international, could be significantly impacted if the visa review and policy changes hinder the legal status and academic plans of thousands of international students.
