White House targets Harvard's foreign student program over security concerns

(ECNS) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation to restrict foreign student visas at Harvard University, the White House announced Wednesday.

The proclamation is the president’s latest attempt to stop Harvard from admitting international students who account for a quarter of the learner base.

It also directs U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio “to consider revoking” the F, M and J visas  for current Harvard students who meet the proclamation’s “criteria,” the White House stated.

The move is an attempt to “safeguard national security,” according to the proclamation. It accuses Harvard of failing to “provide sufficient information” to the country’s Department of Homeland Security regarding any known illegal or dangerous activities and “reporting deficient data on only three students.”

It said that Harvard has seen a drastic rise in crime in recent years but failed to discipline at least some categories of conduct violations on campus, and that the Ivy League failed to address antisemitism on campus.

“These concerns have compelled the Federal government to conclude that Harvard University is no longer a trustworthy steward of international student and exchange visitor programs,” it said.

Admission into the U.S. to attend, conduct research, or teach at the country’s institutions of higher education is a privilege granted by the government, not a guarantee, the White House stressed on the same day.

The Trump administration has been engaged in a tense standoff with Harvard for a few months. Last month, it revoked the university’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification.