In a stunning escalation of its clash with academia, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Wednesday it will subpoena Harvard University for records related to foreign students, marking a new front in the Trump administration’s aggressive campaign against what it deems “uncooperative elite institutions.”
The move follows repeated refusals by Harvard to hand over data tied to its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. In a blistering statement, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused Harvard of enabling foreign students to abuse visa privileges and even promote violence and terrorism on campus.
“We tried to do things the easy way with Harvard,” McLaughlin stated. “Now, we have to do things the hard way.”
Harvard Fires Back: “Unwarranted,” “Retaliatory”
Harvard, unwavering in its defiance, dismissed the subpoenas as baseless. University spokesperson Jason Newton called the administration’s actions “unwarranted government overreach” and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to legal compliance and institutional autonomy.
“Harvard remains committed to protecting its students, faculty, and values from unfounded retribution,” Newton said.
The legal and political storm between the Ivy League institution and President Trump has intensified since his return to office. The administration has slammed Harvard’s DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs, frozen $2.2 billion in grant funding, and threatened its ability to enroll foreign students — prompting a flurry of lawsuits and federal injunctions.
