US Escalates Subpoena Battle with Harvard Over International Student Records
2 Min Read
The United States has intensified its legal standoff with Harvard University, as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) formally issued subpoenas demanding extensive data on the university’s international students, escalating a months-long clash over compliance and campus policies.
The DHS announced on 9 July that it had begun sending administrative subpoenas to Harvard, seeking records of over 7,000 international students enrolled since January 2020. The move, led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), follows multiple failed attempts to obtain the data through voluntary means.
“We tried to do things the easy way with Harvard,” said Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs. “Now, through their refusal to cooperate, we have to do things the hard way.”
McLaughlin alleged that Harvard has allowed foreign students to abuse visa privileges, including participation in campus protests linked to pro-Palestinian movements. While the exact documents demanded have not been disclosed, prior requests reportedly include video footage, emails, and internal memos.
Harvard University spokesperson Jason Newton criticised the move as “unfounded retribution” but confirmed that the university would comply with lawful obligations. “Harvard is committed to following the law… and will continue to cooperate within legal frameworks,” said Newton.
The subpoenas come amid broader pressure from the Trump administration, which has accused Harvard of fostering antisemitism and failing to cooperate with federal investigations. In May, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attempted to revoke Harvard’s authorisation to host international students—a move that was temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
The latest subpoena marks the second formal demand in under two weeks, following a separate probe by the House Judiciary Committee into Harvard’s financial aid practices.
The United States has warned other universities to take note of Harvard’s case, suggesting wider enforcement may follow. Critics have labelled the campaign an attack on academic freedom and international education in the US.
As tensions rise, international students and academic institutions across the country watch closely, concerned about the future of visa policy and institutional autonomy.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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