Second subpoena in two weeks raises alarm over political motivations
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued an administrative subpoena to Harvard University, escalating a months-long dispute over the university’s handling of international student oversight and federal immigration compliance. The subpoena, delivered Wednesday via Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), demands a wide range of documents, including internal communications and protest-related footage, dating back to Jan. 1, 2020.
The order marks the latest effort by the Trump administration to challenge Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which allows the institution to enroll international students on F and J visas.
“We tried to do things the easy way with Harvard,” wrote DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a public statement. “Now, through their refusal to cooperate, we have to do things the hard way.” She added, “If Harvard won’t defend the interests of its students, then we will.”
While a Harvard spokesperson initially declined to comment on the subpoena, university spokesperson Jason Newton later called the move “unfounded retribution” and said the institution “will continue to cooperate with lawful requests and obligations.”
The dispute intensified in late June after DHS threatened to revoke Harvard’s SEVP status unless it attested to compliance with immigration laws. Although the university submitted some materials earlier this spring, federal officials deemed them insufficient and accused Harvard of obstructing oversight.
Wednesday’s subpoena follows a June 26 subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee, which is investigating Harvard’s financial aid and tuition practices. Both actions suggest intensifying federal scrutiny of the university from multiple directions, prompting concerns among legal experts and higher education advocates about the potential political motivations behind the investigations.
Harvard has pushed back in court, alleging retaliation for its engagement in protected speech. A federal judge has already granted injunctions preventing the administration from withdrawing Harvard’s ability to host international students—for now.
Still, DHS warned that Harvard’s situation should serve as a cautionary tale. “Other universities should take note,” the department stated, implying that similar enforcement actions could follow at peer institutions.
In its justification, DHS cited alleged misconduct by international students—including “disciplinary disparity” and “contributions to disorder, campus crime, and antisemitism”—though it offered no supporting evidence. The agency also accused Harvard of failing to properly discipline or report incidents involving foreign students.
The Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive posture toward higher education, particularly elite institutions like Harvard, has drawn criticism from academic leaders and civil rights advocates who view these efforts as politically motivated attacks rather than legitimate oversight. As the legal battle continues, the outcome could carry significant implications for international students and the universities that enroll them.
