Trump prohibits Harvard from enrolling foreign students
(MENAFN)
The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University's authorization to admit international students, intensifying its standoff with the Ivy League school over alleged antisemitism and refusal to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University's authorization to admit international students, intensifying its standoff with the Ivy League school over alleged antisemitism and refusal to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
President Donald Trump, since returning to office, has pushed universities to crack down on pro-Palestinian protests—which he deems antisemitic—and to eliminate DEI efforts that he argues fuel division and radicalism.
On Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that Harvard has 72 hours to meet a set of federal demands to regain its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. These demands include handing over disciplinary records and any video, audio, or digital evidence of non-immigrant students engaging in “illegal, dangerous, or violent” acts on campus.
In a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber, Noem stated that the university is now barred from admitting new international students, and current foreign students must transfer to other institutions or risk losing their legal status. Noem warned that this move is a signal to all U.S. academic institutions.
The Department of Homeland Security also accused Harvard of enabling antisemitism, tolerating campus violence, and collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party.
Nearly 6,800 international students, about 27% of Harvard’s student population for the 2024–25 academic year, could be impacted by this decision.
Noem emphasized that accepting foreign students is a privilege, not a right, and criticized universities for profiting from international tuition fees while failing to meet federal expectations.
Harvard condemned the move as politically motivated and unlawful, arguing that it endangers its educational mission and global standing. Spokesperson Jason Newton reaffirmed Harvard’s commitment to its international community, highlighting the contributions of students from over 140 countries.
This development is the latest escalation in a broader crackdown on elite academic institutions by the Trump administration, particularly over their handling of anti-Israel campus activism. After Harvard rejected earlier federal directives, the administration also froze $2.2 billion in federal funding, part of a wider audit of nearly $9 billion awarded to the university and its research affiliates.
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