The Trump administration has warned Harvard University that it may lose its ability to enrol foreign students if it fails to comply with federal demands regarding information on certain visa holders, marking a significant escalation in the government’s growing confrontation with elite academic institutions.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem said the university must provide records related to what she described as “illegal and violent activities” by foreign students holding U.S. visas. The deadline for submission has been set for April 30.

“If Harvard cannot verify it is in full compliance with its reporting requirements, the university will lose the privilege of enrolling foreign students,” Noem said.

In a further blow, the DHS announced the termination of two federal grants to Harvard, amounting to more than $2.7 million. Secretary Noem added that the university’s substantial $53.2 billion endowment could be used to “fund its own chaos.”

The move comes amid a wider effort by the Trump administration to clamp down on campus protests against the U.S. government’s support for Israel, particularly in light of the Israeli military’s offensive in Gaza following the October 2023 attack by Hamas. The administration has cast these demonstrations—some involving international students—as “anti-American” and “pro-Hamas.”

Harvard, in response to the DHS announcement, reiterated that while it will abide by the law, it “will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.” A spokesperson confirmed receipt of the letter concerning the grants and scrutiny of foreign students.

The developments follow growing pressure on universities across the U.S., with the administration warning of funding cuts to institutions that it claims have failed to curb antisemitism or allowed what it sees as extremist sympathies to flourish under the guise of academic freedom and protest rights.

Critics, including civil liberties groups and human rights organisations, have expressed alarm over the administration’s approach, raising concerns about free speech, academic freedom, and a perceived rise in Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiment.

In recent weeks, the administration has taken steps to revoke visas of student protesters and has reportedly canceled or frozen funding to several other Ivy League institutions including Columbia, Princeton, Cornell, Brown, and Northwestern.

Harvard has pushed back against what it views as government overreach. On Monday, it refused several administration demands, which included the removal of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes, a campus mask ban, and other culture war-related restrictions.

In retaliation, the administration announced the freezing of $2.3 billion in federal funds allocated to the university and signaled a broader review of nearly $9 billion in federal contracts and grants.

President Trump also threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status, a move legal experts warn would set a dangerous precedent. According to CNN, the Internal Revenue Service is currently reviewing the matter, with a decision expected in the near future.

Harvard has strongly contested the legal basis of this threat, warning that such a step would severely impact its financial aid programmes and force a curtailment of critical medical research initiatives.

Despite the mounting pressure, Harvard has maintained that it will continue efforts to combat antisemitism and other forms of discrimination on campus, while protecting the principles of academic freedom and the right to peaceful protest.