Harvard slapped with subpoenas as Trump admin probes foreign student exchange program

The Trump administration has subpoenaed Harvard University in its probe of the elite college’s foreign student exchange program — after the Department of Homeland Security said the institution refused to cooperate.

On Wednesday, DHS accused the Ivy League school of refusing to voluntarily comply with past requests and is now seeking to compel Harvard to fork over information on its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

“We tried to do things the easy way with Harvard. Now, through their refusal to cooperate, we have to do things the hard way,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem declared.

“Harvard, like other universities, has allowed foreign students to abuse their visa privileges and advocate for violence and terrorism on campus.”

The administrative subpoenas will force Harvard to furnish communications, records and other information dating back to Jan. 1, 2020, relating to how the elite university has enforced immigration laws. Fox News first reported on the subpoenas.

The probe is also investigating the “criminality and misconduct” of students on campus, particularly those involved in its student exchange program.

Noem had made requests for that material on April 16, and on May 22, she directed DHS to cut off its certification of Harvard’s SEVP.

“If Harvard won’t defend the interests of its students, then we will,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. 

Failure to adhere to administrative subpoenas could lead to criminal charges, contempt of court or other types of punishment.

A spokesperson for Harvard told The Post that the Ivy League school is “committed to following the law.”

“While the government’s subpoenas are unwarranted, the University will continue to cooperate with lawful requests and obligations,” the spokesperson added.

“The administration’s ongoing retaliatory actions come as Harvard continues to defend itself and its students, faculty, and staff against harmful government overreach aimed at dictating whom private universities can admit and hire, and what they can teach.”

The administrative subpoenas against Harvard come amid a broader feud between the Ivy League and the Trump administration.

Back in March, the Department of Education, the General Services Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services unveiled plans to comb through Harvard’s federal grants.

Roughly two weeks later, the Trump administration outlined a series of demands, such as ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and cracking down on antisemitism on campus — in order to keep receiving contracts and grants from the federal government.

Harvard rejected those demands and filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to protect well over $2.2 billion in funding.

The school also sued over the May move by DHS to revoke certification of Harvard’s SEVP, which effectively meant that new foreign-born students couldn’t enroll in Harvard and that existing ones would have to transfer to other schools.

An Obama-nominated district judge in Massachusetts promptly blocked that move by granting a temporary restraining order.

“Harvard remains unwavering in its efforts to protect its community and its core principles against unfounded retribution by the federal government,” the spokesperson added.

The Ivy League school’s lawsuit over federal funding is slated to have another hearing on July 21.