• The Trump administration has issued subpoenas to Harvard University for information regarding foreign students.
• Accusations include allowing foreign students to abuse visa privileges and engage in protests labeled anti-Semitic.
• Harvard officials have denied claims of non-cooperation and described the subpoenas as retaliatory.
• Failure to comply may result in severe penalties, including loss of accreditation and federal funding.
• The university's international student population, accounting for 27% of total enrollment, is at risk.

The Trump administration has intensified its legal battle against Harvard University, demanding records related to international students. This latest move was initiated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a response to perceived non-compliance by Harvard concerning its Student Visitor and Exchange Program (SVEP) certification. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that if Harvard "won’t defend the interests of its students, then we will," highlighting the administration's frustration over alleged misconduct among foreign students, including accusations of advocating for violence on campus, according to The Hill and Newsweek.

The DHS has characterized the subpoenas as a necessary step after Harvard's failure to cooperate with previous requests for information regarding international students, whom the administration claims have been involved in activities deemed illegal or violent. This assertion has been met with sharp resistance from Harvard, which insists it has complied with lawful requests. Nevertheless, the administration has pressed forward, threatening the university's accreditation and blocking approximately $3.2 billion in federal grants and contracts, according to CBS News and Reuters.

At the same time, the Trump administration is accusing Harvard, along with other universities, of fostering a leftist environment that undermines student welfare, particularly for Jewish students. Officials from the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services have indicated that Harvard's failure to protect Jewish students may jeopardize its accreditation status, further complicating the university's standing, as highlighted by South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.

In response to the administration's actions, Harvard has publicly reaffirmed its commitment to lawful cooperation while condemning the subpoenas as unwarranted and retaliatory. The situation is further complicated by ongoing protests on campus, particularly regarding international students' participation in demonstrations against the conflict in Gaza, reflecting broader political tensions, according to India Times and TRT Global.