The conflict between Trump and elite universities escalates, as Harvard University loses its eligibility to enroll international students.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the U.S. government announced on the 22nd that it would revoke Harvard University's eligibility for student and exchange scholar programs, prohibiting the school from enrolling international students. Currently enrolled international students must transfer to continue their studies.
According to a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that day, Secretary Mayorkas announced this decision as a warning to all universities and academic institutions nationwide.
Harvard University responded that this was 'illegal, retaliatory behavior' that 'could cause serious harm to the Harvard community and our country,' and stated:
"We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to accept international students and scholars, who come from over 140 countries and greatly enrich the university and this country."
Systematic suppression: From funding freezes to total lockdown
This confrontation can be traced back to a few months after the outbreak of the Israel-Palestine conflict in October 2023.
At that time, Harvard's then-president testified in Congress regarding the campus pro-Palestinian protests, provoking strong dissatisfaction from Republican lawmakers. He subsequently resigned, and Alan Garber took over as president in August 2024.
The timeline shows that since Trump took office in January 2025, the White House's pressure on Harvard has gradually intensified:
February: The Department of Justice established a special task force aimed at 'eradicating anti-Semitic harassment on school and university campuses.'
March 31: Multiple federal departments announced a formal review of Harvard's $255.6 million contracts and $8.7 billion in multi-year grants.
April 14: The Trump administration announced an immediate freeze on funding, including $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in multi-year contracts.
May 5: The Trump administration announced the termination of all new federal grants.
May 13: The anti-Semitism task force announced an additional cut of $450 million in federal funding.
May 19: The Trump administration indicated it would use the 'False Claims Act' to combat universities' diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
Tensions escalate: Legal battles begin between both sides
In the face of government pressure, Harvard did not sit idly by.
On April 21, Harvard filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing the government of violating the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and implementing 'arbitrary and capricious' funding cuts.
Previously, the government had issued a series of demands to Harvard, including reforming the school governance structure to weaken the power of students and certain faculty members, changing hiring and admissions practices to reject students deemed 'hostile to American values and institutions,' canceling diversity programs, and auditing several academic programs and centers.
Harvard President Alan Garber firmly rejected these demands, stating: 'The university will not sacrifice its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.'
Is the operational model of American private universities being overturned?
The impact of this political storm has transcended the ivory tower.
Analysis indicates that prestigious universities like Harvard not being able to enroll international students will directly impact their tuition revenue and global ranking, while related industries such as international education services, student housing, and educational technology may also be affected.
On the same day, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Mayorkas, stated during an interview with Fox News that similar measures were being considered for other universities.
It is noteworthy that Trump repeatedly threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status and tax it 'as a political entity'—if this threat materializes, it would fundamentally change the operational model of American private universities.
#以太坊走势 #币安LaunchpoolHUMA #比特币突破11万美元
