Harvard Under Pressure: University May Lose Accreditation Over Anti-Semitism, Immigration Scandal

Harvard University has found itself at the epicenter of a political scandal in the United States. The administration of President Donald Trump has stepped up pressure on the university, accusing it of possible violations of anti-discrimination laws over anti-Semitism and non-compliance with immigration requirements for international students. At stake are the institution’s accreditation and billions of dollars in funding.

According to Bloomberg, the US Department of Homeland Security has served Harvard with subpoenas demanding documents confirming compliance with the Student Visa and Exchange Program rules. The reason was that it ignored previous requests from government agencies. At the same time, the university is still debating its response to anti-Semitism following the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The situation has become even more complicated after negotiations between Harvard and government representatives broke down in late June. The US government has frozen more than $2.4 billion in research funding. In response, Harvard has filed a lawsuit, accusing the administration of exceeding its authority and acting without justification.

The White House, for its part, has stepped up its campaign against leading American universities. President Trump has announced his intention to reform the accreditation system for educational institutions, calling it his administration's "secret weapon." He is talking about the creation of alternative accreditation bodies that, according to Trump, will implement "real" standards.

Columbia University has already received a formal warning from the accreditation body. And Harvard is being asked to provide detailed information about all international students, including disciplinary cases and video footage of protests that have taken place on campus over the past five years. The university is also accused of increasing crime and violations in security management.

Harvard University, one of the most prestigious and richest universities in the United States, says it is complying with all regulations and has already adopted a number of internal policy changes to combat bias. At the same time, its leadership insists that the Trump administration's actions are a politically motivated campaign that threatens the autonomy of higher education. The lawsuit promises to be one of the most high-profile in the field of education in recent years.