Trump Demands Names and Countries of All International Students at Harvard

• Trump Demands Data from Harvard
• Federal Judge Blocks Immigration Measure
• International Students Under Pressure

According to USA TODAY, President Donald Trump ignited a new controversy by publicly demanding the names and countries of origin of all international students enrolled at Harvard University.

The statement was made on May 25 via his social network, Truth Social, amid escalating tensions between the university and the Republican administration.

“We want to know who those foreign students are,” Trump wrote.

“A reasonable request given that we give Harvard billions of dollars, but Harvard is not very communicative,” he added.

Trump Immigration Measure Blocked by Federal Judge

The president did not clarify which federal agency would collect the information or how it would be used by the government.

He also did not specify whether his request would have legal or administrative consequences for the students.

The post came just days after a federal judge temporarily blocked a measure pushed by the Trump administration to remove Harvard from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

That cancellation would have barred the university from admitting or retaining international students with valid visas.

Harvard Responds Trump with Constitutional Lawsuit

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem had sent a letter to Harvard’s administration announcing that the school’s participation in the program was “terminated with immediate effect.”

The immediate consequence of that measure would have been the forced transfer of hundreds of international students to other universities in order to remain legally in the United States.

In response, Harvard sued the federal government, arguing that the decision violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution.

The university described the measure as a “blatant violation” of due process and the fundamental rights of the affected students.

Trump Targets Elite Universities

Judge Allison Burroughs, appointed by former President Barack Obama, ruled in favor of Harvard on May 23.

In her ruling, Burroughs stated that the policy would cause “immediate and irreparable harm” to the campus and university community.

This conflict is part of a broader offensive by Trump against elite universities, particularly those with progressive positions or inclusive policies on their campuses.

During his second term, several federal agencies have focused on challenging diversity programs and investigating allegations of antisemitism in academic institutions.

Harvard’s Endowment and Legal Reactions

Harvard has been a frequent target of these criticisms, both for its internal policies and for its influence in American higher education.

In addition, Congress is currently debating a bill that could increase taxes on private universities with large endowments.

A university endowment is a mix of donations, gifts, and investment returns used to fund academic and operational programs.

In his posts, Trump also referenced Harvard’s endowment, though he cited a figure that appeared to be inaccurate.