The Trump administration has launched a sweeping investigation into Harvard University, citing a range of national security and compliance concerns related to its foreign visa holders. Central to the inquiry are allegations that the university failed to report misconduct by foreign students, allowed antisemitic harassment to persist, maintained improper ties with hostile foreign governments, and neglected to enforce visa regulations.
The investigation, led by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, covers all Harvard-affiliated visa holders, including F-1 student visas as well as B-1 (business), B-2 (tourist), and J-1 exchange visitor visas. Authorities are closely examining Harvard’s compliance with the Exchange Visitor Program, which permits the university to sponsor short-term visas for international instructors, researchers, and certain students.
As part of the inquiry, Harvard has been ordered to turn over records related to its visa sponsorships, and federal officials may interview university staff and current visa holders. Additional concerns cited by investigators include failures in visa oversight, a rise in campus crime, and millions of dollars in undisclosed foreign funding.
The battle between the Trump administration and Harvard has been ongoing for several months, with federal judges intervening on behalf of the university, slowing the process, and threatening national security. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requested information from Harvard regarding foreign students involved in illegal or violent activity, threats to others, or actions disrupting campus life.
A letter dated April 16, 2025, specifically asked for disciplinary records related to protests, threats, or obstruction of the learning environment. Harvard submitted incomplete data covering only three students, too limited for DHS to evaluate, and ignored a follow-up request from the Department’s Office of General Counsel. The administration argues that Harvard’s refusal to provide this information poses a national security risk, as the federal government depends on such disclosures to ensure visa compliance.
Officials further allege that Harvard has failed to address antisemitic harassment on campus. A joint task force reported widespread discrimination, intimidation, and threats targeting Jewish students, with little intervention from university leadership. Harvard’s own 2025 internal study found that nearly 60 percent of Jewish students experienced bias, stereotyping, or discrimination based on their views of current events.
The administration has also raised concerns about Harvard’s ties to foreign governments, particularly China and Iran. From 2019 to 2024, Harvard hosted members of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), a Chinese paramilitary group sanctioned for its role in the Uyghur genocide. Despite XPCC’s 2020 designation on the U.S. Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals List, Harvard’s China Health Partnership continued hosting events with XPCC officials, which were publicized in Chinese state media.
Federal authorities also point to collaborations between Harvard researchers and Chinese institutions tied to the People’s Liberation Army. These include DARPA-funded work with Tsinghua University on AI-related materials, joint development of surveillance-capable microrobots with Zhejiang University, and physics research co-authored with faculty from the National University of Defense Technology, which falls under China’s Central Military Commission.
In 2023, a Harvard professor co-authored at least six papers with researchers from Xi’an Jiaotong University’s State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures. Additionally, Harvard researchers took part in at least four projects from 2020 to 2024 funded by Iranian government institutions, including the Iranian National Science Foundation.
Officials also cite past security incidents involving Harvard affiliates. Professor Charles Lieber, without the university’s knowledge, served as a strategic scientist at Wuhan University of Technology while participating in China’s Thousand Talents Plan, all while receiving over $15 million in U.S. research grants. In another case, PLA Lieutenant Ye falsely claimed to be a student on her J-1 visa while continuing military service and sending U.S. research data to China.
From 2013 to 2020, Harvard received nearly $94 million in donations from China, more than any other U.S. university, and over $18 million more in 2023 alone, without disclosing donor identities. The administration argues that such financial ties raise serious transparency and influence concerns.
Officials further point to a breakdown in campus security. Between 2022 and 2023, crime at Harvard rose 55 percent, with aggravated assaults up 195 percent and robberies up 460 percent. The administration claims this reflects broader failures in governance, particularly regarding oversight of international students.
They also argue that Harvard either fails to keep adequate disciplinary records or does not monitor foreign student conduct seriously. This lack of transparency, they contend, undermines the government’s ability to enforce immigration rules and safeguard national security.
The standoff between the Trump administration and Harvard escalated in April, when the administration froze more than $2 billion in federal research grants after Harvard refused to comply with directives from the Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. On May 22, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem terminated Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, blocking new foreign student enrollment and requiring existing students to transfer or risk losing legal status.
Harvard sued to challenge the SEVP revocation on May 23, and a federal judge immediately issued a temporary restraining order blocking DHS enforcement. On May 28, DHS issued a Notice of Intent to Withdraw the SEVP certification via a separate administrative process. Then, on June 4, President Trump issued a proclamation barring foreign students from entering the U.S. to attend Harvard, citing national security concerns.
Between June 20 and 23, federal courts issued preliminary injunctions blocking both the SEVP termination and the presidential proclamation, preserving the status quo while litigation proceeds. On June 23, the State Department launched a new investigation into Harvard’s Exchange Visitor Program, requiring expedited document production and enhanced social media screening for visa applicants.
Harvard’s SEVP certification remains in place under court protection, allowing continued enrollment of international students and issuance of visa documents. However, the legal battle continues, with federal agencies pursuing further administrative reviews and investigations. The broader conflict between Harvard and the Trump administration remains unresolved.
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