Latest news with #ExchangeVisitorProgramme
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
US State Dept probes Harvard over visiting scholar programme
US State Dept probes Harvard over visiting scholar programme AFP WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday launched an investigation into Harvard University's ability to sponsor visiting students and academics, part of a continuing crackdown on the elite institution. Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly accused Harvard and other top US universities of having a "liberal" bias, accusing some of "antisemitism" to cut federal funding and demand greater oversight. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the latest investigation would examine whether the university was complying with regulations in the Exchange Visitor Programme. That included probing whether the university was "conducting their programmes in a manner that does not undermine the foreign policy objectives or compromise the national security interests of the United States." "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 said in a statement. Harvard has so far defied Trump's calls to submit to oversight of its curriculum, staffing, student recruitment and "viewpoint diversity." Trump has cut federal grants for Harvard and tried a host of different tactics to block the institution from hosting international students. The administration has sought to remove Harvard from an electronic student immigration registry and instructed embassies to deny visas to international students hoping to attend the Massachusetts-based university. The administration insists its moves are legally justified over Harvard's failure to protect Jewish students, particularly amid campus protests against Israel's war in Gaza. Harvard has sued the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to block the efforts, arguing they are illegal and unconstitutional. The Ivy League institution has also sued to restore more than US$2 billion in frozen funds.
India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Harvard under investigation for role in US visa programme for foreign researchers
The US Department of State has opened a formal investigation into Harvard University's participation in the federal Exchange Visitor Programme, raising questions about the Ivy League institution's compliance with national security protocols and programme enquiry will assess whether Harvard remains eligible to serve as a sponsor in the programme, which brings thousands of international students and scholars to the United States annually for academic and cultural has come under increasing pressure from Washington since it refused to comply with demands from a federal antisemitism task force in April. The university is now suing for over $2.6 billion in federal funding cuts, accusing the Trump administration of carrying out a campaign of retaliation. 'All sponsors participating in this programme are required to fully comply with exchange visitor regulations, transparency in reporting, and a demonstrated commitment to fostering the principles of cultural exchange and mutual understanding upon which the programme was founded,' the State Department said in a department emphasised that sponsors must not conduct activities that 'undermine the foreign policy objectives or compromise the national security interests of the United States.'While the agency has not disclosed what triggered the investigation, the announcement marks a rare public scrutiny of one of the country's most prestigious American people have the right to expect their universities to uphold national security, comply with the law, and provide safe conditions for all students. "The investigation will ensure that State Department programs do not run contrary to our nation's interests," the department spokesperson Jason Newton said the investigation was 'another retaliatory step' taken by the administration. 'Harvard continues to enrol and sponsor international scholars, researchers, and students, and will protect its international community and support them as they apply for US visas and travel to campus this fall,' Newton said in a statement. He said the school is committed to complying with the programme's Bruen, a former director of global engagement under Democratic President Barack Obama, said there is no justification for the administration's action.'It not only damages Harvard, but American higher education & industry that depend on the best & brightest wanting to come here,' Bruen said in a post on Exchange Visitor Programme, also known as the J-1 visa programme, has long been seen as a soft power tool for US diplomacy, building goodwill through academic and cultural ties.- EndsInputs from Associated PressTune InMust Watch
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Trump administration targets Harvard's foreign student programme in latest investigation
Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. Trump launched an investigation into Harvard's visa sponsorship programme. Photo / Getty Images US President Donald Trump's administration has launched an investigation into Harvard University's ability to sponsor visiting students and academics, part of a continuing crackdown on the elite institution. Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly accused Harvard and other top US universities of having a 'liberal' bias, accusing some of 'antisemitism' to cut federal funding and demand greater oversight. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the latest investigation would examine whether the university was complying with regulations in the Exchange Visitor Programme. That included probing whether the university was 'conducting their programmes in a manner that does not undermine the foreign policy objectives or compromise the national security interests of the United States'. '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 said in a statement.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
US State Department probes Harvard over visiting scholar programme
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The State Department's probe is part of a continuing crackdown on the elite institution. WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump's administration on July 23 launched an investigation into Harvard University's ability to sponsor visiting students and academics, part of a continuing crackdown on the elite institution. Since taking office in January, Mr Trump has repeatedly accused Harvard and other top US universities of having a 'liberal' bias, accusing some of 'anti-Semitism' to cut federal funding and demand greater oversight. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the latest investigation would examine whether the university was complying with regulations in the Exchange Visitor Programme. That included probing whether the university was 'conducting their programmes in a manner that does not undermine the foreign policy objectives or compromise the national security interests of the United States.' '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 said in a statement. Harvard has so far defied Mr Trump's calls to submit to oversight of its curriculum, staffing, student recruitment and 'viewpoint diversity.' Mr Trump has cut federal grants for Harvard and tried a host of different tactics to block the institution from hosting international students. The administration has sought to remove Harvard from an electronic student immigration registry and instructed embassies to deny visas to international students hoping to attend the Massachusetts-based university. The administration insists its moves are legally justified over Harvard's failure to protect Jewish students, particularly amid campus protests against Israel's war in Gaza. Harvard has sued the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to block the efforts, arguing they are illegal and unconstitutional. The Ivy League institution has also sued to restore more than US$2 billion (S$2.5 billion) in frozen funds. A Harvard spokesman did not immediately respond to a request from AFP for its response to the State Department investigation. AFP
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Trump administration to investigate Harvard over visa eligibility
The Trump administration opened a new front in its battle with Harvard University on Tuesday, announcing it would investigate the school's eligibility to sponsor certain State Department did not specify any alleged violations in its letter to Harvard, but noted participants in the Exchange Visitor Programme, which allow foreigners into the US temporarily, "are required to fully comply with exchange visitor regulations".Harvard called the probe "yet another retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard's First Amendment rights."The school has previously sued the government over attempts to revoke its federal funding and ability to host foreign academics. The Exchange Visitor Programme is designed to promote cultural and educational opportunities for foreign applicants. A wide range of individuals, from physicians to interns to au pairs, can apply for visas, which are often sponsored by universities and other educational organizations."Visa sponsorship is a privilege, and sponsors whose conduct tarnishes our nation's interests will lose that privilege," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on Trump administration has accused Harvard of failing to combat antisemitism on campus and sought to restrict funding and visas for the oldest university in the spring, the administration threw Harvard into chaos when it temporarily revoked the the university's ability to host academics and students through a different program, the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP). Harvard sued the government, alleging it has violated the school's free speech rights, and the case is ongoing. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration's order while the case plays for the school appeared in federal court on Boston on Monday in a separate lawsuit over the Trump administration's attempt to freeze more than $2bn (£1.5bn) in federal attorney Steven Lehotsky alleged the government was trying to control the "inner workings" of the university buy cutting off funding."The administration has given no consideration to patients, the public at large and the harm of all this research being cut off," he told Judge Allison Velchick, representing the government, said Harvard "prioritised campus protesters over cancer research" and had violated executive orders aimed at combatting antisemitism.
