by Olivier Acuña Barba •Published: May 25, 2025•13:34•2 minutes read
Princess Elizabeth’s future at Harvard University is at risk | Photo: Belgian Royal Palace
Princess Elizabeth, the 23-year-old future queen of Belgium, was able to see the Harvard registrations affected by the ban on foreign students at Ivory League University.
“Princess Elizabeth has just completed her first year. The impact of the (Trump administration) decision will only become clear in the coming days or weeks,” a spokesman for Belgian royal Lore Vandoorne said. “We are currently investigating.”
The university currently hosts nearly 6,800 international students, many facing the same future as Princess Elizabeth. International students make up about 27% of the university’s population. The latest decision from the Department of Homeland Security comes amid growing tensions between federal officials and Harvard over the Trump administration’s claim that the university has implemented an inadequate response to anti-Semitism on campus.
Trump vs Harvard University
Trump’s government in a legal battle with Harvard University. On Thursday, they revoked the institution’s right to register international students and forced them to sign up for another university or lose their legal status in the United States.
A letter from Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem on the DHS X Account states that “I am writing to immediately enforce the revocation of the Harvard Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification.”
“The revocation of the student and exchange visitor program certification means Harvard is prohibited from having an alien for the F or J-Nonim immigrant status in the 2025-2026 academic grade.
The secretary told Harvard University: “It’s a privilege to register foreign students, and it’s a privilege to hire aliens on campus.”
Norm says he failed to comply with April 16 requests for records of non-immigrant students registered with Harvard University, as well as information on misconduct and other crimes by foreign students that serve as the basis for studying and removal.
“The evil of anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism”
The secretary said the result would send a message to Harvard University and all other universities, making it clear that “the Trump administration will enforce the law and eradicate the evils of anti-American and anti-Semitism in society and campus.”
In another press release, Homeland Security said: “Commander Norm follows his promise to protect students and prohibit terrorist sympathizers from receiving benefits from the US government.”
DHS defendant Harvard “creates an unsafe campus environment by disrupting the once-popular learning environment, including many Jewish students, and allowing them to harass and attack individuals, including many Jewish students.
Harvard condemned government action
A Harvard University spokesman called government actions “illegal.” Thursday’s Guardian Statement.
“We are committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host international students and academics who come from over 140 countries to enrich the universities and enrich the country,” the spokesman said.
“We are working promptly to provide guidance and support to our community members. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to Harvard’s community and our country and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”
In April, Harvard President Alan Gerber said, “Even though political parties are in power, we should not decide what private universities can teach, who they can recognize and hire, and which areas of research and research can be pursued.”
Gerber also stated, “The university will not waive independence or waive its constitutional rights. The administration’s prescriptions go beyond the power of the federal government, violating Harvard’s First Amendment rights and exceeding the statutory limits on government powers under Title VI.
