Trump administration subpoenas Harvard for ‘foreign student information’

The Division of Homeland Safety introduced it has subpoenaed Harvard for “foreign student information” Wednesday, the newest escalation in a protracted backwards and forwards between the college and Trump administration.

“If Harvard won’t defend the interests of its students, then we will,” the Division of Homeland Safety and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X. “We tried to do things the easy way with Harvard. Now, through their refusal to cooperate, we have to do things the hard way. Harvard, like other universities, has allowed foreign students to abuse their visa privileges and advocate for violence and terrorism on campus.”

The division didn’t instantly state what info associated to overseas college students has been subpoenaed or what the data could also be used for.

Harvard responded Wednesday, stating that whereas the subpoenas are “unwarranted,” the college “will continue to cooperate with lawful requests and obligations.”

“The administration’s ongoing retaliatory actions come as Harvard continues to defend itself and its students, faculty, and staff against harmful government overreach aimed at dictating whom private universities can admit and hire, and what they can teach,” a Harvard spokesperson said. “Harvard remains unwavering in its efforts to protect its community and its core principles against unfounded retribution by the federal government.”

Harvard has confronted mounting sanctions from the Trump administration for the reason that spring, together with an preliminary lack of $2.6 billion in analysis grants. The federal authorities has demanded the college come into compliance with a protracted listing of calls for associated to hiring, governance, admissions and extra, which Harvard’s management initially rejected.

On June 20, President Trump posted on X that the lengthy battle with Harvard could also be resolved quickly, stating the college has “acted extremely appropriately.”