Trump Admin Targets Harvard, Columbia Over Antisemitism Claims

The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University's certification to enroll international students due to the university's failure to comply with government demands. The move affects over 6,700 international students who make up 27% of Harvard's student body. The administration had been investigating Harvard and demanded changes to its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices to combat antisemitism. Harvard had resisted, calling the demands "unlawful" and suing the administration. The university has 72 hours to comply with a list of demands to regain its ability to enroll international students. International students at Harvard expressed fear and frustration, with some graduating students worried about their future in the US.

The Trump administration has accused Columbia University of violating federal civil rights law by failing to protect Jewish students from harassment on campus since October 2023. The US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights alleges that Columbia showed "deliberate indifference" to the harassment, violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The university is accused of failing to establish effective mechanisms to combat antisemitism, investigate vandalism, and enforce protest restrictions. Columbia University has stated that it is committed to combating antisemitism and will work with the government to address the issues. The accusation is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to pressure universities to crack down on antisemitism, with other elite institutions also facing penalties for non-compliance.

President Donald Trump has taken actions that echo the tactics of authoritarian leaders, including cracking down on Harvard University and attending a cryptocurrency dinner with investors. The administration barred Harvard from enrolling foreign students, citing the university's alleged failure to address antisemitism and its "racist" diversity programs. This move is seen as an attempt to intimidate other educational institutions and force them to obey Trump's orders. Trump's actions have drawn concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions, the corrosion of checks and balances, and the potential for corruption. The crackdown on Harvard is part of a broader assault on higher education, which Trump sees as a rival source of authority and a bastion of progressive values that contradict his own views. The move is also likely to harm Harvard's financial health and may lead to a court fight. Trump's attendance at the cryptocurrency dinner, where investors had sunk millions of dollars into his meme coin, has raised concerns about the potential for corruption and the misuse of presidential power for personal gain.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, citing the termination of its Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. The decision affects over 6,700 international students, who make up 27% of Harvard's enrollment. Current international students may have to transfer to another university to maintain their nonimmigrant status. Harvard has called the decision "unlawful" and is working to provide guidance to its community. The move is part of a broader dispute between Harvard and the Trump administration over federal funding, with the administration freezing $2.2 billion in funds after Harvard refused to comply with its demands. Experts say the decision is likely to face a strong legal challenge, and a federal judge has already blocked a similar attempt by the administration to terminate the legal status of foreign students nationwide. The decision could debilitate Harvard's academic research and potentially harm American academia.

A Trump administration decision to revoke Harvard University's ability to enroll international students due to alleged failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitism could impact several of the school's sports teams, as many of its athletes are international students. Harvard has the nation's largest athletic program with 42 varsity sports teams, and 21% of its athletes have international hometowns. Teams that could be affected include the men's heavyweight crew, men's hockey, men's squash, women's soccer, and golf, with many of their members being international students who may be forced to transfer or leave the country.

The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University's certification to access the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a database used to track international students, effectively halting the university's ability to enroll new international students and putting the status of its current 6,800 international students in limbo, making them potentially deportable unless they transfer to another school or a court intervenes. The move is seen as an escalation of the administration's efforts to pressure Harvard into complying with the president's agenda, and the university is likely to challenge the decision in court, arguing that it is arbitrary and capricious, and violates the First Amendment.

The Trump administration's Health and Human Services Department found that Columbia University violated civil rights law by being "deliberately indifferent" to harassment against Jewish students, adding to previous accusations of antisemitism against the school. The university had already been subject to the suspension of over $400 million in grants and contracts in March and has since stated it is committed to combating antisemitism and working with the government to address the issues.

The Trump administration announced that it would bar international students from Harvard University, revoking the university's permission to enroll them. The decision has thrown the futures of thousands of Harvard students into uncertainty, with many expressing shock, fear, and confusion. International students make up over a quarter of Harvard's student body and contribute significantly to the university's revenue and diversity. The move is seen as a retaliation against Harvard's refusal to comply with the administration's demands to change its hiring and admissions practices and curriculum. Students and faculty are worried that the decision will "destroy the university as we know it" and have expressed concerns about their ability to receive their degrees, stay in the US, and continue their studies. Many are considering transferring to other universities or exploring alternative options. The university's president has been at odds with the Trump administration, and the decision is the latest escalation in their conflict.