U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a 15% cap on international student enrollment at Harvard University, escalating tensions with the Ivy League institution over federal funding and policy compliance. Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump criticized Harvard's current foreign student population of nearly 31%, questioning their backgrounds and alleging some might be "troublemakers influenced by radical left lunatics."
Policy Pressure Intensifies
The Trump administration has threatened funding cuts to universities resisting policy changes, including demands to eliminate antisemitism on campuses and diversity initiatives favoring minority groups. Harvard’s tax-exempt status and access to billions in federal funds now hang in the balance, with the Department of Homeland Security revoking its eligibility for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program on May 22.
Legal Showdown Looms
Harvard has filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s actions, securing a temporary block on the visa program ban from a Massachusetts federal judge. A critical court hearing on May 29 will determine whether the injunction remains in place. The university argues that its international community—6,800 students and scholars from over 140 countries and regions—strengthens academic excellence and global ties.
As of fall 2023, foreign students comprised over 27% of Harvard’s student body, with most enrolled in graduate programs. The outcome of this dispute could reshape U.S. higher education’s approach to global student mobility and federal oversight.
