U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, ordered an immediate suspension of student visa processing, in coordination with President Donald Trump’s intensified crackdown on dissent at American universities.
The move comes amid heightened tensions on campuses nationwide, especially at Harvard University, where students have led protests against the war in Gaza and what they describe as the White House’s campaign to silence academic freedom and punish political speech.
A leaked State Department cable signed by Rubio and obtained by AFP instructed all U.S. embassies and consulates to halt “any additional student or exchange visa… appointment capacity until further guidance is issued.”
The directive is widely seen as a retaliatory measure against students involved in Gaza-related protests, with the administration accusing them of links to Palestinian militant group Hamas.
This order follows earlier action by Rubio rescinding hundreds of student visas, and the Trump administration’s dramatic move to revoke Harvard’s accreditation under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively banning the institution from enrolling non-American students.
With nearly 27 percent of Harvard’s student body comprising international students, the fallout has been immediate.
Many students now face deportation or urgent transfer to other universities, as uncertainty clouds their future.
Adding to the pressure, the administration announced it would cancel all remaining federal contracts with Harvard — a decision expected to cost the university over $100 million.
This follows earlier freezes on billions in research funding and represents a sharp escalation in Trump’s effort to reshape American higher education.
In response, Harvard has mounted a robust legal campaign, filing multiple lawsuits to block visa cancellations and restore federal funding. Legal experts say the university has a strong case.
“The court system is not going to step to the side and allow this to go forward,” said Ray Brescia, a law professor at Albany Law School. “These measures are so flawed that higher courts will likely strike them down.”
Protests erupted across Harvard’s campus Tuesday, as students gathered in cap and gown just days before graduation.
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News helicopters buzzed overhead while students held signs reading “Trump = traitor” and chanted “Who belongs in class today? Let them stay!”
“All my international friends and professors are at risk,” said Alice Goyer, a student protester. “They’re threatened with deportation or forced to transfer.”
One graduating British student, who gave his name only as Jack, said the controversy has damaged the U.S.’s reputation for higher education.
“I don’t know if I’d pursue a PhD here,” he said. “Six years is a long time.”
The White House defended the crackdown, saying taxpayer funds should prioritize vocational training and institutions that promote “American values.”
“We need more electricians and plumbers — not LGBTQ graduate majors from Harvard,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during an appearance on Fox News.
The administration has repeatedly framed its actions as necessary to curb what it describes as left-wing extremism and anti-American sentiment in elite universities.
Harvard alumni have rallied in defense of the institution, with the grassroots group Crimson Courage organizing a virtual town hall and announcing a separate lawsuit to be filed June 9.
Filmmaker Anurima Bhargava, speaking at the event, emphasized the broader stakes: “This isn’t just about Harvard. It’s about the future of free inquiry and academic freedom in America.”
