The Trump administration announced on Thursday a set of measures to strip Harvard University of its ability to enroll international students, escalating the ongoing confrontation with the oldest university in the United States.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem posted on X that the government had revoked Harvard’s “Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification” due to the institution’s alleged “violation of the law.”
“Let this be a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country,” she wrote.
Harvard responded with a statement calling the decision “unlawful.”
“We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host our international students and scholars, who come from over 140 countries and greatly enrich the University and this nation,” the university said.
“We are working swiftly to provide guidance and support to our community members. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to Harvard’s community and to our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” the statement continued.
The government’s decision could impact thousands of international students currently studying at Harvard.
Nearly 7,000 international students were enrolled at the university in the last academic year, accounting for 27.2% of the student body, according to university data.
Clash Between Trump and Harvard
The White House has demanded that Harvard implement changes to its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices in order to combat antisemitism on campus.
Harvard has previously stated it has taken numerous steps to address antisemitism and has argued that the administration’s demands represent an attempt to regulate the university’s “intellectual conditions.”
The government has threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and freeze billions of dollars in federal grants.
In April, Noem warned that Harvard’s access to student visa programs would be revoked if the university did not comply with the administration’s demand for broad access to international student records.
In Thursday’s letter, the secretary stated that Harvard must meet a list of demands in order to have a “chance” to regain its ability to enroll international students.
This includes turning over all disciplinary records of non-resident students enrolled over the past five years.
Noem also demanded that Harvard hand over electronic records, videos, and audio recordings of any “illegal,” “dangerous,” or “violent” activities involving non-resident students on campus.
The notice gave Harvard 72 hours to comply with the Department of Homeland Security’s request for records.
The Trump administration has previously sought to dramatically reduce student visa access, creating chaos and confusion across university campuses in the U.S. and triggering a wave of lawsuits.
In some cases, visa revocations appeared to target international students involved in political protests or those with previous minor legal offenses, such as traffic violations.
Harvard’s Resistance
Harvard is not only the most prestigious university in the United States, but also the wealthiest academic institution in the country—and the world.
The university manages an endowment worth $53 billion, exceeding the GDP of over 120 countries, including Iceland, Bolivia, Honduras, and Paraguay.
Thanks to massive donations, successful investments, and strict financial management, Harvard has become a uniquely well-resourced institution.
Its financial strength provides powerful leverage to resist political and economic pressure that might destabilize other universities.
Harvard’s president, Alan M. Garber, has been the visible face of the university’s standoff with Trump. On April 14, he announced that the institution had refused to comply with the administration’s demands, earning praise from many in Democratic Party circles.
In response, the government eliminated Harvard’s tax benefits and followed through on its threat to prohibit international student enrollment, as confirmed by Thursday’s announcement.
The latest move by Noem stems from an investigation the Department of Homeland Security launched on April 16, after accusing Harvard by letter of fostering “a hostile educational environment for Jewish students.”
The government’s request for information on all international students with visas raised alarm among Harvard’s legal team, who feared they could be forced to share personal data beyond what the law allows, according to The New York Times.
Harvard conveyed its concern to the government on April 30.
That same day, Executive Vice President Meredith Weenick issued a public letter affirming that only data “required by law” would be shared with the government and encouraged students to “stay as focused as possible on their academic goals.”
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