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Washington Post
5 minutes ago
- Washington Post
State Department to investigate Harvard's use of international J-1 visas
The State Department on Wednesday opened a new investigation into Harvard University's eligibility as a sponsor of visas through the Exchange Visitor Program, intensifying the Trump administration's battle with the Ivy League institution. In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said all program sponsors need to comply with government regulations and ensure they do not undermine U.S. foreign policy or compromise the country's national security interests. 'The American people have the right to expect their universities to uphold national security, comply with the law, and provide safe environments for all students. The investigation will ensure that State Department programs do not run contrary to our nation's interests,' the statement said. It did not outline any specific misconduct on Harvard's part. In an emailed statement Wednesday, Harvard said it remains committed to compliance with all Exchange Visitor Program regulations. 'This investigation is yet another retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard's First Amendment rights,' a spokesperson said, adding that the university continues to enroll and sponsor international scholars, researchers and students. The Exchange Visitor Program provides nonimmigrant visas, also known as J-1 visas, for those coming to the United States in various educational and cultural capacities, including as students, professors, au pairs, camp counselors, interns and researchers. President Donald Trump's targeting of higher education institutions to bring them in line with his political agenda has involved actions such as freezing of billions of dollars in federal research funding. His administration has tried to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll international students and has focused on visa applications related to the nation's oldest university for additional federal scrutiny. Harvard has pushed back against the administration's claims, including that it is not taking sufficient action against antisemitism on campus. This week, in a case that could have significant ramifications for higher education in the U.S., Harvard's lawyers argued that the Trump administration's reasons for withholding federal funding were 'cooked up' and unconstitutional. The hearing before U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs concluded without a ruling. In May, when the Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard's ability to admit international students, the university sued and won a temporary block of the ban. There are more than 10,000 foreign students and scholars from over 150 countries at Harvard in the current academic year, according to its data. Days later, the State Department directed its embassies and consulates to undertake extra scrutiny of visa applicants requesting travel to Harvard, including students, faculty, workers, guest speakers and tourists. Last month, Trump issued a proclamation — which typically does not have the force of law — seeking to restrict the entry of international students and scholars looking to study or research at Harvard. Soon afterward, a court blocked the administration from targeting student visas, following which the State Department instructed consulates to resume processing such applications. Harvard says it has taken numerous steps to address antisemitism in the wake of campus protests last year over the war in Gaza. Earlier this month, the Harvard Crimson reported that the school told international students to expect enhanced screening at Boston Logan International Airport and warned them that their social media could be vetted for pro-Palestinian posts. While Harvard's legal fights continue, other institutions have sought to compromise with the administration. Columbia University on Wednesday agreed to pay the federal government more than $200 million to settle a dispute over funding. The deal reinstates most of the $400 million in frozen research grants and closes investigations into the school. Amy B Wang contributed to this report.
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Investigation into why top civil servant was replaced
An investigation is taking place into the circumstances in which the Department of Education's permanent secretary was replaced in November 2024. BBC News NI understands the investigation is being undertaken by a senior legal figure from Scotland. It was commissioned by the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Jayne Brady. A permanent secretary is the most senior non-political official in a government department, effectively the department's chief executive. Who is Mark Browne? Mark Browne held the role of permanent secretary for a number of years, including a period when the Stormont Executive had collapsed. In the absence of a functioning government at Stormont from February 2022 until January 2024, departments were run by senior civil servants. As permanent secretary for education, Mr Browne had to make a number of difficult decisions on cuts in the absence of a minister. But in November 2024 Education Minister Paul Givan informed the chairman of the Stormont's Education Committee, Alliance assembly member Nick Mathison, that a temporary permanent secretary was being put in place. The former head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Ronnie Armour, subsequently became the acting permanent secretary at the Department of Education. Why was Mark Browne replaced? That is what members of Stormont's Education Committee have been trying to find out. According to correspondence seen by BBC News NI, the committee had a number of questions about the change at the top. In a letter to Givan on 10 January 2025, Mathison, as the committee chair, asked "why there is a vacancy." He said the committee also wanted to know "what difficulties may have arisen, what implications these may have and how they may be resolved." In his reply to the committee, the minister said moves at permanent secretary level were made by the head of the Civil Service (HOCS), a position currently held by Jayne Brady. But in a further letter to Givan in February, the committee sought "further clarification on senior staffing issues." "The committee is concerned about the adequacy of governance checks and balances," Mathison wrote. "The committee's letter of 10 January asked 'why there is a vacancy.'" "The committee considered that your reply of 21 January did not answer this question, and the committee agreed to ask you the question again." Givan responded to that letter on 25 March, in which he said he "noted" the concerns of the committee. He again said that the head of the Civil Service had "moved the permanent secretary." Members of the Education Committee subsequently wrote to Ms Brady, asking "what were the considerations which underpinned your move of the permanent secretary." But BBC News NI understands that Ms Brady, as head of the Civil Service, had by that stage appointed a senior Scottish legal figure to investigate the circumstances behind Mr Browne's replacement at the Department of Education. What has been the response from the Department of Education and Jayne Brady? When contacted by BBC News NI, a spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Civil Service said: " We do not comment on internal confidential staffing matters." The Department of Education said it had nothing further to add to the response from the Civil Service. The FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, told BBC News NI they were not able to comment at this time. But the MLA who chairs Stormont's Education Committee says they still have questions. Nick Mathison told BBC News NI "a number of concerns have been raised with me relating to the role of the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education in recent months." "It was surprising to see an interim permanent secretary announced with no explanation," he said. "Seven months on, despite calls for clarity and an explanation from the Education Minister and Head of the Civil Service, we remain in the dark as to why the previous Permanent Secretary is no longer in post or when the position will be filled permanently." "The role is the second most senior in education in Northern Ireland and the sector is facing multiple critical challenges, including school budgets, Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision and school maintenance." "It is vital clarity is given, so the public can have trust in the senior leadership structures across the sector." More on this story Holiday hunger cut the 'most difficult choice' Prison service chief moving to new NI role
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
3 officers wounded after gunman opens fire in ‘ambush situation' in Ohio, police say
An armed man lying in wait on a dead-end street shot and wounded two Ohio police officers when they parked their patrol vehicles in an undeveloped industrial park to eat lunch Wednesday, and an officer driving into the scene in response to their call for help also was shot and seriously injured, officials said. The shooter 'was shot on scene and was pronounced deceased,' said Michael Failing, the acting police chief in Lorain, about 25 miles west of Cleveland. The man 'had an arsenal of weapons with him,' said Failing, who did not share further details on that and noted that the available information about the shooting was preliminary. James Welsh, the police chief in nearby Elyria whose department is investigating what happened, told reporters earlier that Lorain officers were ambushed by a man firing a high-powered rifle, and that police returned fire. Welsh said it wasn't immediately clear if the suspect, a 28-year-old Lorain man whom Welsh and Failing did not name, was killed by the officers or shot himself. Welsh said the man is believed to have acted alone. Two of the officers suffered multiple gunshot wounds, Failing said. They were in critical condition after being flown to a trauma center, according to a statement issued by the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police hours after the shooting. The other officer was shot in the hand and was treated at a local medical facility, Failing said. He said the ambushed officers had just bought a pizza and parked side by side to eat in their vehicles. Responding officers loaded the wounded into patrol vehicles and rushed them to get medical care, he said. Authorities shared no details Wednesday about what might have motivated the shooting. 'It's a tragic day in the city of Lorain, but we're a strong city, and we're going to move forward,' Mayor Jack Bradley said. He said officers will be offered counseling to help process what happened. Bradley also said he'd spoken with Gov. Mike DeWine, who offered support. In a separate statement, the governor said the shooting 'reminds us that those who work in law enforcement risk their lives every day for the safety of their communities.'
