US issues administrative subpoenas to Harvard for foreign student records

ISTANBUL

The US Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday it will send administrative subpoenas to Harvard University demanding records related to foreign students after the school "repeatedly refused" to comply with previous requests.

The subpoenas target Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, focusing on documents concerning foreign students since Jan. 1, 2020.

"We tried to do things the easy way with Harvard. Now, through their refusal to cooperate, we have to do things the hard way," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X.

Administrative subpoenas are legal orders compelling organizations to provide documents or testimony without court approval.

The agency, in a statement, cited "allegations of disciplinary disparity involving nonimmigrant students" as justification for demanding the records and communications.

The action follows Noem's April 16 demand for information about the "criminality and misconduct" of foreign students on Harvard's campus. Noem ordered her agency to terminate the school’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification on May 22.

The subpoenas represent the latest escalation in the Trump administration's conflict with Harvard concerning allegations of antisemitism and national security concerns.

The administration previously revoked Harvard's certification to enroll foreign students in May, froze federal research grants and concluded through the Justice Department that the school violated federal civil rights laws by failing to address harassment against Jewish and Israeli students during protests related to the war in the Gaza Strip. The university denied the reports, said it has made "significant strides to combat bigotry, hate and bias" and is committed to "ensuring members of our Jewish and Israeli community are embraced, respected, and can thrive at Harvard."

The agency warned other schools to "take note of Harvard's actions, and the repercussions, when considering whether or not to comply with similar requests."

- Harvard vows to resist ‘harmful’ government overreach

Harvard told Anadolu in a statement that it remains committed to upholding the law but criticized the “unwarranted” government subpoenas.

The school said it will cooperate with lawful requests while defending students and staff against “harmful government overreach” that seeks to dictate admissions, hiring and teaching.

“Harvard remains unwavering in its efforts to protect its community and its core principles against unfounded retribution by the federal government," it said.