Is A Wider Crackdown On Foreign Students In US Universities Coming?

Last Updated:May 24, 2025, 16:12 IST

Trump administration’s ban on Harvard enrolling foreign students is part of a broader crackdown on US universities over perceived ideological non-compliance.

The Trump administration on Thursday revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students and is requiring current foreign students to transfer to other schools or risk losing their legal status. Although a US District Court has temporarily halted the federal order, the move is part of a broader initiative in which the administration has launched investigations and imposed financial penalties on dozens of public and private universities.

In recent months, the administration has opened investigations and imposed financial penalties on dozens of universities—both public and private. Since taking office in January 2025, President Donald Trump has pushed a sweeping immigration agenda.

One key focus has been targeting foreign students—especially those involved in pro-Palestinian protests. According to Business Insider, the administration, with backing from Education Secretary Linda McMahon, is working to “de-woke” academia by eliminating what it calls radical and anti-American ideologies.

The crackdown goes beyond just protests. The administration is cutting federal funds, revoking visas, and even deporting students involved in political demonstrations. Officials justify the actions by claiming some universities promote “anti-American, Marxist and radical left” views.

Harvard has been at the centre of this conflict, with the government using the Ivy League school as an example to warn others. Tensions escalated just days after Trump was sworn in, when he launched a campaign to dismantle DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programmes across campuses.

Trump Administration Vs Ivy League Schools: Timeline

January 29, 2025: Trump signs an executive order calling for stronger protection of Jewish students and action against antisemitism. Though no universities were named, Leo Terrell was appointed to lead a new task force. He later shared a tweet calling himself “Harvard’s worst nightmare.”

February 27: The Justice Department sends letters to Harvard, Columbia, and others requesting meetings about on-campus antisemitism. The task force announces visits to 10 universities.

March 10: The administration launches formal investigations into over 60 universities, including Harvard and Columbia, for alleged violations of the Civil Rights Act.

March 27: The federal government begins reviewing all contracts and grants to Harvard, raising fears over billions of dollars in funding.

April 14: The task force freezes $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard. The university files a lawsuit, claiming it started receiving “stop work” notices.

April 15: Trump posts on Truth Social: “Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’”

Ten Major Universities Under Fire

The crackdown has hit several top universities hard. The 10 institutions under direct scrutiny include:

Harvard University

Columbia University

New York University (NYU)

George Washington University

Johns Hopkins University

Northwestern University

University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Los Angeles

University of Minnesota

University of Southern California

Massive Funding Cuts

Harvard has faced the steepest cuts—$2.2 billion in grants and contracts. Columbia saw $400 million frozen, while Brown University could lose $510 million. Cornell and Northwestern are both at risk of losing nearly $1 billion each.

The University of Pennsylvania lost over $175 million after being criticised for allowing transgender women to compete in sports.

In late April, some universities expressed willingness to cooperate with the administration to avoid further damage. Others insisted they had already taken strong action against antisemitism.

The series of funding freezes, visa revocations, and enrollment bans imposed on Ivy League schools since January paints a clear picture: the Trump administration’s crackdown on higher education is not a one-off.

Instead, it signals the start of a broader campaign targeting what it sees as ideological non-compliance and civil rights failures in academia. With more than a dozen top universities already under federal scrutiny, it’s becoming increasingly likely that similar actions—ranging from financial penalties to international student bans—could soon extend to other institutions across the United States

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