The Department of Homeland Security escalates pressure on Harvard University by threatening to revoke its ability to enrol foreign students and cancelling over $2.7 million in grants, following non-compliance with demands from the Trump administration related to student visa records and policy changes.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has escalated its actions against Harvard University, threatening to revoke the institution’s ability to enrol foreign students and cancelling grants exceeding $2.7 million. This development follows a recent freeze on $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard after the university refused to comply with a set of demands issued by the Trump administration.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has issued a directive for Harvard to provide detailed records concerning foreign student visa holders, specifically requesting information about any “illegal and violent” activities associated with them. The department has set a deadline of 30 April for the university to submit these records. According to DHS, failure to verify full compliance with its reporting requirements will result in Harvard losing its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, thereby forfeiting the privilege to enrol international students.
A letter sent to Harvard last week laid out numerous conditions Harvard must satisfy to preserve its financial relationship with the federal government. Among the reported conditions were demands to end all diversity, equity, and inclusion policies immediately, and to take disciplinary action against students involved in an incident where a pro-Palestinian tent encampment was erected on Harvard Yard.
Harvard President Alan Garber issued a response on Monday, affirming the university’s stance by stating, “The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”
Secretary Noem further criticised Harvard in a statement on Wednesday, asserting that the university was “bending the knee to antisemitism” and emphasising that “America demands more from universities entrusted with taxpayer dollars.”
In addition to the threat concerning student enrolment, the DHS announced the cancellation of two significant grants awarded to Harvard: the $800,303 Implementation Science for Targeted Violence Prevention grant and the $1,934,902 Blue Campaign Program Evaluation and Violence Advisement grant. These cancellations represent a substantial financial setback for the university’s research initiatives related to violence prevention and law enforcement support.
Furthermore, President Trump has suggested that Harvard should be stripped of its tax-exempt status and be subjected to taxation as a political entity, highlighting the administration’s increasing pressure on the prestigious institution.
The CBS News is reporting this ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and Harvard University, which underscores a broader confrontation over federal funding, policy compliance, and institutional autonomy in higher education.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.thefp.com/p/exclusive-dhs-cuts-harvard-grants – This article supports the claim about DHS actions against Harvard, including cutting grants and potentially affecting student visas.
- https://www.hio.harvard.edu/student-visa-process – This URL from Harvard’s International Office explains the process and requirements for obtaining student visas, which are relevant to the DHS directive mentioned in the article.
- https://www.cbsnews.com/ – CBS News could be reporting on the broader confrontation between the Trump administration and Harvard University over federal funding and policy compliance, as suggested in the article.
- https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/07/15/trump-administration-drops-directive-international-students-and-online-courses – This article discusses previous actions by the Trump administration concerning international students, which may provide context for current developments.
- https://www.hio.harvard.edu/applying-your-visa – This Harvard University resource explains the visa application process for international students, relevant to DHS directives about foreign students.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
0
Notes:
The narrative references Donald Trump’s administration and Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary, who is not confirmed in this role. Donald Trump is no longer in office, indicating the story is likely outdated or fictional.
Quotes check
Score:
0
Notes:
There are no verifiable sources for the quotes attributed to figures like Kristi Noem and Alan Garber in this context.
Source reliability
Score:
0
Notes:
The narrative does not explicitly state its origin from a reputable source like the BBC or Reuters, but references CBS News, which might suggest some form of journalism. However, without direct confirmation, this is uncertain.
Plausability check
Score:
2
Notes:
The claim involves significant legal and financial actions by the DHS, which seems implausible given the lack of real-time updates or corroboration from well-established news outlets.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears outdated, lacks verifiable sources, and includes quotes that cannot be traced back to any reliable online sources. These factors, combined with the implausibility of the situation given current political and administrative contexts, strongly suggest that this story is not credible.
