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The Trump Administration Pressures Harvard to Submit a List of International Students, Threatens to Cut $3 Billion in Funding

1. The Trump Administration's Latest Requests

Submitting a List of International Students: The Trump administration has demanded that Harvard provide detailed information, including the names, nationalities, and visa status of all international students, claiming it is necessary to identify "radicals or troublemakers."

Funding Threat: Trump threatened on social media that if Harvard did not comply, he would cut $3 billion in federal funding and redirect it to professional schools.

Political Accusations: Trump called Harvard "deeply anti-Semitic" and criticized its high proportion of international students (27%), suggesting a potential impact on national security.

2. Harvard's Response

Legal Counterattack: Harvard has sued the Department of Homeland Security over its revocation of its international student admissions status (SEVP certification) and successfully obtained a temporary restraining order requiring the government to "maintain the status quo" until a hearing.

Data Dispute: The university stated that providing a complete list of students could violate privacy rights and that the federal government has no authority to compel such information.

Current Status of International Students: In the 2024-2025 academic year, Harvard had nearly 6,800 international students from over 140 countries, most of whom were graduate students. If the policy is implemented, they will be forced to transfer or leave the country.

3. Policy Background and Impact

Increased Visa Screening: This move is part of the Trump administration's tightening of international student policies, having previously suspended Harvard's admission of new international students.

Academic and Financial Impact:

International student tuition is a significant source of revenue for Harvard, and a loss of this revenue would impact research funding (for example, international students contributed over $500 million in 2023).

Many universities are concerned about the spread of similar screening, with MIT and Stanford potentially becoming targets.

International Reaction: Embassies in many countries are concerned about the policy changes, and universities with large international student populations, such as China and India, may adjust their recommendations for studying in the United States.

4. Legal and Political Controversy

Constitutional Controversy: Legal experts question whether the government's request violates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and may constitute racial profiling.

Partisanship: Democrats criticize the policy as "xenophobic," while conservative Republicans support a "national security priority" approach.

Election Factors: Trump leverages education to consolidate his base, emphasizing "America First" and anti-elitism.

5. Subsequent Developments

Court Ruling: The Massachusetts federal court will hold a hearing in mid-August to determine the legality of the SEVP revocation.

College Alliance Action: The Association of American Universities (AAU) is considering a joint lawsuit opposing government interference in admissions autonomy.

International Alternatives: Some students are turning to universities in Canada and the UK, while universities like Peking University and Tsinghua University in China are increasing their recruitment of international students.

Summary: The Trump administration's pressure on Harvard is both a continuation of its tightening immigration policies and a reflection of the increasing politicization of higher education. If implemented, the US academic competitiveness and global talent appeal could be severely damaged, and the outcome of Harvard's lawsuit will be a key indicator.