Trump Administration Escalates Actions Against Harvard Amid International Student Visa Revocations
The Trump administration intensifies pressure on Harvard, threatening tax-exempt status and visa suspensions as over 1,000 international students face visa revocations nationwide.
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The move is part on an ongoing battle, and a significant escalation on Trump’s attack on Harvard and his aggressive, multi-pronged assault on higher education institutions.
Trump news at a glance: president takes aim at Harvard, threatening tax-exempt status
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The moves raise the stakes of the showdown between the White House and the nation’s oldest, wealthiest and arguably most prestigious university, which on Monday became the first to openly defy the administration’s demands related to activism on campus, antisemitism and diversity.
Trump administration targets Harvard's tax-exempt status and international students
PBS NewsHour·2d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.Leans LeftThis outlet slightly leans left.The administration has rebuked American universities over their handling of pro-Palestinian student protests that roiled campuses from Columbia in New York to Berkeley last year, following the 2023 Hamas-led attack inside Israel and the subsequent Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Trump Calls Harvard 'a Disgrace' Amid Protests
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Visa cancellations are happening at campuses across Illinois, upending the lives of students, leaving faculty and staff unsure how to offer guidance and threatening the financial health of the schools themselves.
Trump's termination of international student visas jolts Illinois colleges
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International students – including at prestigious American universities – have been targeted amid the Trump administration’s larger immigration crackdown.
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The uncertainty could severely impact the U.S. higher education system, as it could lose a generation of global talent if foreign students no longer feel safe traveling to the United States.
Why the Trump administration is revoking student visas
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Summary
The Trump administration has escalated tensions with Harvard by threatening to revoke the university's tax-exempt status and freeze federal funding, amid its revocation of international student visas. President Trump cited alleged antisemitism and calls for reforms at Harvard, which has prompted fear among the university’s international community, notably 27% of its students. Legal actions are ongoing after more than 1,024 international students faced visa revocations since March. Harvard's president reaffirmed the university’s stance against the administration's demands, while the confrontation highlights broader issues of academic freedom amid growing political scrutiny of universities.
Perspectives
Hundreds of international students in the U.S. have had their visas revoked without notification or clear reasons, causing confusion among educators and anxiety among students.
The Trump administration's actions are perceived as an attack on higher education, especially lacking legal justification and transparency regarding the revocations.
The uncertainty surrounding visa statuses may deter future international students from choosing U.S. institutions, potentially harming the academic landscape.
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History
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