Trump halts Harvard's intl student enrollment

United States President Donald Trump's administration has halted Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, in the latest escalation of a row with the Ivy League school.

The US Department of Homeland Security notified Harvard on Thursday of its decision after the nation's oldest and wealthiest college questioned the legality of the department's request for records on foreign students.

The department said it had terminated Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, meaning the university can no longer admit foreign students and existing ones must transfer or lose their legal status.

"This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism … on its campus," said US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in a statement. "It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments."

Noem added: "Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their SEVP certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law."

Jason Newton, Harvard University's director of media relations, said in a statement that the action was "unlawful". He added that it was offering guidance and support to those affected and said that the retaliatory action threatened "serious harm" to Harvard's community and the country, and undermined the college's academic and research mission.

Zhao Minghao, a professor at the Institute of International Studies at Shanghai-based Fudan University, called the Trump administration's blocking of Harvard from enrolling foreign students "absurd", and said that the move was politically and ideologically motivated.

On Friday, Harvard University sued the Trump administration over its decision to revoke the university's ability to enroll foreign students. In April, the university already sued the Trump administration for trying to force it to make changes to its curriculum, admissions and staffing.

In a separate court case, US District Judge Jeffrey S. White in Oakland on Thursday also blocked the Trump administration from terminating the legal status of international students nationwide.

Harvard is well known for its international students. This year it has approximately 6,800 international students, representing around 27 percent of the student body, according to the university.

The school estimates that each year, anywhere from 1,800 to 2,300 Chinese students and scholars study at Harvard.

"The Chinese side will firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful interests of Chinese students and scholars abroad," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday. Mao said that the US move will only undermine its own image and reputation in the world.

Hong Kong's education chief and a leading university swiftly responded by extending opportunities to Harvard students.

Hong Kong Education Secretary Choi Yuk-lin said she had directed local universities to offer recruitment measures for these high-achieving students. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology pledged to provide unconditional offers, streamlined admission procedures and academic support to facilitate a seamless transition for interested students.

Shadow Li in Hong Kong and agencies contributed to this story.