Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday to restrict the entry of new foreign students at Harvard University, citing security concerns. This move has intensified tensions between the Trump administration and the prestigious institution.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the proclamation was issued despite ongoing legal efforts to prevent the Trump administration from revoking Harvard's ability to enroll international students. The decision has raised concerns among foreign nationals who aspire to pursue education and research at one of the world's leading universities.

The proclamation states that it is necessary to limit the entry of foreign nationals who intend to attend courses or participate in exchange visitor programs at Harvard. The directive suspends and limits the entry of individuals under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program for six months, with the possibility of extension.

The Secretary of State has been instructed to consider whether current Harvard attendees on F, M, or J visas should have their visas revoked. However, Trump noted that the suspension and limitation would not apply to foreigners whose entry aligns with U.S. national interests.

Trump justified the measure by citing security risks, highlighting that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned that foreign adversaries exploit access to American higher education. Concerns include the theft of technical information, exploitation of research and development, and the spread of misinformation.

The president specifically mentioned the People's Republic of China as one of the adversaries attempting to misuse the student visa program for improper purposes. Approximately 6,800 international students attended Harvard in the 2024-25 academic year, accounting for about 27 percent of the student body, as reported by The New York Times.