The U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday that it is investigating Harvard University’s participation in the exchange visitor visa program.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that Harvard’s continued use of the program might undermine U.S. national security.
“To maintain their privilege to sponsor exchange visitors, sponsors must comply with all regulations, including conducting their programs in a manner that does not undermine the foreign policy objectives or compromise the national security interests of the United States,” Rubio stated.
“The American people have the right to expect their universities to uphold national security, comply with the law and provide safe environments for all students,” he added.
The move follows the Trump administration’s decision to revoke Harvard’s ability to participate in a separate visa program in May.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said the decision was made because Harvard is “hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies and employs racist ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ policies.”
A federal judge in Boston granted the university a preliminary injunction to halt that decision in June.
A spokesman for Harvard told JNS that the State Department investigation “is yet another retaliatory step taken by the administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights.”
“Harvard continues to enroll and sponsor international scholars, researchers, and students, and will protect its international community and support them as they apply for U.S. visas and travel to campus this fall,” the spokesman said. “The University is committed to continuing to comply with the applicable Exchange Visitor Program regulations.”
According to Harvard’s website, the J-1 exchange visa program under investigation “is generally used for students in specific educational exchange programs such as the Fulbright, DAAD, AmidEast, etc.”
“The purpose of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is to provide foreign nationals with opportunities to participate in educational and cultural programs in the United States and return home to share their experiences,” the university says.
In 2024-2025, Harvard said it had nearly 7,000 international students.
