The administration of President Donald Trump launched a new attack on elite universities in the US on Wednesday. The White House announced the banning of visas for all foreign students wishing to study at Harvard University, a measure with immediate effect and valid for six months.
According to AFP, the ban affects both prospective international students and those already enrolled, whose visas may be revoked.
The decision has caused panic on campus, where approximately 27% of students come from outside the US. "I'm shaking. It's outrageous," said Karl Molden, an Austrian student majoring in political science.
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Threats against Columbia University
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Linda McMahon has threatened to revoke Columbia University's accreditation, accusing the institution's leadership of ignoring cases of harassment against Jewish students after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
"Columbia University turned a blind eye to the harassment of Jewish students," McMahon said.
Revoking accreditation would block the university's access to federal funding and prevent students from accessing scholarships or government loans.
Massive funding cuts and accusations of political reprisals
The administration has already reduced funding for Harvard by $3.2 billion and placed under review another $400 million allocated to Columbia University.
Critics accuse Trump of instrumentalizing the fight against antisemitism to punish academic institutions that are not favorable to him and weaken the influence of educational elites.