A new flashpoint has emerged in the escalating conflict between the Trump administration and one of the nation’s most prestigious academic institutions. The Department of Homeland Security, under President Donald Trump, has issued formal legal subpoenas to Harvard University — demanding detailed records related to foreign students on its campus.
The subpoenas, delivered earlier today, target information tied to alleged misconduct and possible criminal activity by international students enrolled through Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program or SEVP — which governs student visas for non-citizens in the United States.
DHS officials say Harvard has repeatedly failed to cooperate with previous, non-binding requests for this data. In a statement to Fox News Digital, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused the Ivy League university of shielding students who, quote, “abuse their visa privileges and promote violence or terrorism,” end quote.
McLaughlin stated, “We tried to do things the easy way with Harvard. Now, due to their refusal to cooperate, we’re doing it the hard way.”
The federal agency’s legal maneuver follows mounting tensions over recent anti-Semitic protests at Harvard, which erupted during intensifying Israeli-Palestinian conflicts. The unrest pushed Harvard President Alan Garber to issue a rare public apology, yet the DHS maintains the university has not done enough to address the potential misuse of its student visa program.
SNEWS TV has learned that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem initially requested Harvard’s cooperation back in April, asking for documentation of any immigration violations or crimes tied to foreign students since January 1, 2020. But according to DHS, the response from Harvard was incomplete and “unacceptable.”
In response, DHS took the dramatic step in late May to begin the process of revoking Harvard’s authorization to enroll foreign students under the SEVP — a move that could impact nearly 25% of the university’s student body.
Harvard, in turn, filed a lawsuit titled President and Fellows of Harvard College v. DHS, alleging the government’s actions were politically motivated and unconstitutional. The university claims the administration is retaliating against Harvard for defending academic freedom and resisting federal attempts to influence campus governance and ideology.
A federal judge U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs of Massachusetts, an Obama appointee, granted Harvard a temporary restraining order. This ruling has allowed the university to continue issuing visas and admitting international students for now.
Neither Harvard University nor DHS has issued any new public statements since the subpoenas were filed. SNEWS TV has reached out to both for comment.
We will keep you updated as this legal battle unfolds with implications not just for Harvard, but for universities nationwide navigating the intersection of national security, academic independence, and international education.
Reporting by Katy Moore.
