Harvard Faces Visa Crackdown and Loss of Student Program Amid Protest Fallout

The U.S. State Department is casting a wide net over Harvard University, scrutinizing all visa holders linked to the institution, not just students. This includes B-1 business visas, B-2 tourist visas, and others, as officials aim to uncover potential security risks or visa system abuses. The probe could affect hundreds associated with the elite school, raising questions about the legitimacy of their connections.

In a dramatic escalation, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has terminated Harvard’s student visa program, citing 'pro-terrorist conduct' during campus protests. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem didn’t mince words, accusing Harvard of fostering violence, antisemitism, and ties to the Chinese Communist Party. 'It’s a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students,' Noem declared, pointing to Harvard’s alleged failure to comply with requests for student behavioral records.

As a result, Harvard faces severe consequences: it can no longer enroll foreign students for the 2025-2026 academic year, and current international students must transfer or lose their legal status in the U.S. Noem has given Harvard a 72-hour window to provide requested data to potentially restore its visa program. Harvard, in response, called the termination 'unlawful' and has sued the Trump administration.

The crackdown doesn’t stop there. The Trump administration has frozen nearly $3 billion in federal funding to Harvard, targeting research grants, and launched investigations across multiple federal departments over claims of unchecked antisemitism and problematic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. At least a dozen Harvard students have already lost their U.S. study authorization due to protest activities.

Adding fuel to the fire, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced aggressive visa revocations for Chinese students, particularly those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. 'We’ve likely revoked thousands of student visas already,' Rubio told Congress, emphasizing that visas are a privilege, not a right.

This scrutiny follows a wave of pro-Gaza protests across U.S. campuses, sparked by Israel’s campaign against Hamas after the October 7 attacks. Harvard’s decision to allow foreign students to accept admission at both Harvard and a foreign university as a backup plan reflects the growing uncertainty surrounding its visa program.