Why did Trump want Harvard list of visa students?

During Donald Trump’s presidency, his administration introduced stricter immigration policies, including those affecting international students. The request for information from universities like Harvard about students with visas was not because the government lacked visa records—it already had them through the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security.

The reasoning was tied to enforcement and monitoring. The administration wanted universities to provide details to ensure students were maintaining their visa status, attending classes, and not misusing visas. It was part of a broader push to tighten oversight on foreign students, especially from certain countries considered high-risk.

In short, Trump’s government already issued the visas, but sought lists from universities as an extra layer of verification and control, reflecting its stricter stance on immigration rather than a lack of data.