The Department of Homeland Security, under Secretary Kristi Noem, has stripped Harvard University of its certification to enroll new international students—an unprecedented move that escalates the Trump administration’s campaign against institutions it accuses of noncompliance and political bias.
Harvard was notified on May 22 that it is no longer authorized to accept new students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) for the upcoming academic year. The decision affects thousands of foreign students, particularly those holding F and J visas, and leaves the university scrambling to assist nearly 7,000 international students who may need to transfer or risk losing their legal status in the United States.
According to Secretary Noem, the decision was driven by Harvard’s repeated refusal to comply with DHS information requests related to student conduct, particularly concerning alleged campus antisemitism and foreign influence. DHS had reportedly sought disciplinary records and footage of protest events, which the university did not fully provide.
This action follows months of mounting federal pressure on Harvard. The Trump administration had already frozen approximately $2.6 billion in federal research grants to the university and threatened to revoke its tax-exempt status. Officials have framed the campaign as part of a broader effort to root out foreign influence and restore accountability on elite campuses.
In a sharply worded response, Harvard called the move “unlawful and retaliatory,” accusing the administration of weaponizing the immigration system to punish dissenting institutions. The university announced it will pursue legal action to challenge the revocation and work to restore its ability to sponsor visas.
The academic community is already rallying around Harvard. Higher education groups and rival institutions argue that the administration’s decision undermines academic freedom and global educational leadership. Critics say the move disrupts lives, weakens the U.S. university system, and sets a dangerous precedent for federal overreach.
For now, Harvard says it is doing everything possible to support affected students, offering legal guidance and assistance in identifying alternative pathways to remain in the country.
The administration, however, appears unmoved. Officials say the decision is part of a larger push to hold elite institutions accountable to federal law and national security standards.
Legal challenges are expected in the coming days, but unless overturned by the courts, one of the world’s most prestigious universities will be unable to welcome international students for the first time in decades.
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