President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation that bans most international students from entering the United States to study at Harvard University. This decision, announced on Wednesday, has sparked significant controversy and backlash from the university and its supporters.

Harvard University responded swiftly, calling the proclamation an "illegal retaliatory step" that violates its First Amendment rights. In a statement, the university emphasized, "Harvard will continue to protect its international students." The proclamation, which is set to last for at least six months, prohibits noncitizens from entering the U.S. to pursue studies at Harvard. It also directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio to consider revoking the visas of foreign students already enrolled at the university.

In the proclamation, Trump claimed that Harvard is "no longer a trustworthy steward" of international students. He cited concerns over the university's refusal to provide information about its international student population and alleged that Harvard has extensive ties with foreign countries. Trump stated, "I have determined that the entry of the class of foreign nationals described above is detrimental to the interests of the United States because, in my judgment, Harvard’s conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers."

The proclamation also raised alarms about rising crime rates at Harvard, although it did not provide specific evidence to support this claim. Trump justified the ban by asserting that the university's actions compromise national security. He stated, "Until such time as the university shares the information that the Federal Government requires to safeguard national security and the American public, it is in the national interest to deny foreign nationals access to Harvard under the auspices of educational exchange."

This latest move follows a previous attempt by the Department of Homeland Security to revoke Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows the university to sponsor foreign students. However, a federal judge issued a temporary order blocking that action.

The proclamation specifically targets new students holding F, M, or J visas, and it could potentially affect the approximately one in four Harvard students who come from abroad. The top five countries contributing the most students to Harvard are China, Canada, India, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

As the situation unfolds, Harvard remains committed to advocating for its international student body, while the Trump administration continues to assert its stance against the university's policies.