Proclamation 10948 of June 4, 2025, Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University
On June 4, 2025 President Trump issued a proclamation "to restrict the entry of foreign nationals who seek to enter the United States solely or principally to participate in a course of study at Harvard University or in an exchange visitor program hosted by Harvard University." Implementation of the proclamation is currently blocked by a temporary restraining order issued on June 5, 2025. On June 9, 2025, CNN reported that the State Department ordered consulates to return to normal processing of visa applications of individuals destined to Harvard. See US State Department orders embassies to resume processing Harvard student visas, Kylie Atwood, CNN, June 9, 2025.
June 23, 2025. Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Blocking June 4, 2025 Proclamation 10948. A preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on June 23, 2025 currently blocks any implementation of Presidential Proclamation 10948 of June 4, 2025, Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University, "until a further order is issued by this Court." See NAFSA's page for other information on the case of President and Fellows of Harvard College v. DHS et al., 1:25-cv-11472 (D.Mass).
Read:
- Proclamation 10948 of June 4, 2025, Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University
- Proclamation published on whitehouse.gov
- Proclamation published in the Federal Register at 90 FR 24493 (June 10, 2025)
- White House Fact Sheet on the proclamation
- Temporary Restraining Order, Docket # 59, temporarily blocking implementation of the proclamation
Litigation updates
June 23, 2025. Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Blocking June 4, 2025 Proclamation 10948. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction on June 23, 2025 blocking any implementation of Presidential Proclamation 10948 of June 4, 2025, Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University, "until a further order is issued by this Court." See NAFSA's page for other information on the case of President and Fellows of Harvard College v. DHS et al., 1:25-cv-11472 (D.Mass).
June 5, 2025. Court Blocks Implementation of June 4, 2025 Presidential Proclamation. On June 5, 2025 a Federal district court granted Harvard's motion for a temporary restraining order against the June 4, 2025 presidential proclamation that seeks to restrict new students from attending Harvard University. Under the TRO, "Defendants, their agents, and anyone acting in concert or participation with Defendants are hereby enjoined from: Implementing, instituting, maintaining, enforcing, or giving force or effect to the Presidential Proclamation." See on CourtListener: Order on Motion for TRO, Docket # 59. In the same order the court extended its May 23, 2025 temporary restraining order that blocks DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's May 22, 2025 letter of revocation "until June 20, 2025, or such earlier time as a preliminary injunction order can be issued." For further information on the overall litigation, see NAFSA's page Harvard Suit Challenges Revocation of SEVP Certification.
Suspension of entry applies to F, M, Js who plan to "begin attending" Harvard
Proclamation Section 1 suspends for 6 months (unless extended) the "entry of any alien into the United States as a nonimmigrant to pursue a course of study at Harvard University under section 101(a)(15)(F) or section 101(a)(15)(M) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F) or 1101(a)(15)(M), or to participate in an exchange visitor program hosted by Harvard University under section 101(a)(15)(J) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(J)... subject to section 2 of this proclamation."
Proclamation Section 2 more narrowly limits the entry ban to those "who enter or attempt to enter the United States to begin attending Harvard University through the SEVP (incorrectly referred to as the "Student and Exchange Visa Program" in the proclamation) after the date of this proclamation."
The White House Fact Sheet on the proclamation says that this "suspends the entry into the United States of any new Harvard student as a nonimmigrant under F, M, or J visas."
Harvard University does not currently have M-1 certification, so this would impact F and J students (both are SEVIS categories) who must enter the United States after June 4, 2025 to begin attending Harvard.
National interest exception. Proclamation Section 2(d) creates an exception for individuals "whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees."
Current students and exchange visitors at Harvard
The proclamation does not directly restrict individuals who had already begun attending Harvard prior to June 4, 2025.
However, Proclamation Section 2(b) directs the Secretary of State to "consider" whether individuals "who currently attend Harvard University and are in the United States pursuant to F, M, or J visas and who otherwise meet the criteria described in section 1 of this proclamation should have their visas revoked pursuant to section 221(i) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1201(i)." See NAFSA's Visa Revocation Basics page for background on INA 221(i).
The White House Fact Sheet on the proclamation says that it "directs the Secretary of State to consider revoking existing F, M, or J visas for current Harvard students who meet the Proclamation’s criteria."
Other related actions
This proclamation was issued in addition to the measures against Harvard's SEVP certification discussed on NAFSA's page Harvard Suit Challenges Revocation of SEVP Certification.
But Proclamation Section 3 also tells the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security to "also consider using their respective authorities under the INA to impose limitations on Harvard University’s ability to participate in the SEVP and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System."
Additional information
The proclamation invokes INA 212(f); 8 USC 1182(f), the same source of authority cited in the presidential "travel ban" proclamations. INA 212(f) grants a President broad power to suspend or impose restrictions, "by proclamation," on the entry of "aliens" (the INA defines alien as "any person not a citizen or national of the United States") when he or she finds that such entry "would be detrimental to the interests of the United States." See NAFSA's page for background on INA 212(f).
In justifying the proclamation, President Trump cites his complaints against Harvard, including his allegations of "foreign entanglements," discriminatory admissions policies, "crime rates at Harvard," and Harvard's responses to DHS requests for information that he deems "deficient."