Trump administration revokes Harvard’s authority to enroll foreign students
In an extraordinary move with sweeping implications, the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday revoked Harvard University’s certification to admit international students, escalating a bitter standoff between the Trump administration and one of the nation’s most prestigious academic institutions.
The action, ordered by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L Noem, immediately bars Harvard from enrolling new international students and requires current ones to transfer or risk losing their legal immigration status. It follows weeks of rising tensions between the administration and the university over accusations that Harvard has permitted foreign students to engage in what Noem called “anti-American, pro-terrorist” behaviour on campus.
The decision threatens to drastically reshape the university’s student body — nearly 27 percent of which comes from outside the United States.
DHS accuses Harvard of obstructing national security
In a statement, Secretary Noem accused Harvard of failing to comply with a federal request for records on foreign students alleged to have participated in violent protests or illegal activity over the past five years.
“The university knowingly allowed anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, and obstruct its once-venerable learning environment,” she said. Noem further alleged that Harvard hosted and trained members of China’s paramilitary forces, though no public evidence was released to support the claim.
She gave the university 72 hours to turn over a list of disciplinary and digital records, including video and audio footage, related to protest activity involving international students.
Harvard pushes back: ‘Unlawful, retaliatory’
In a statement published Thursday, Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton said the Trump administration’s move was “unlawful” and vowed that the university would pursue all avenues to protect its international community.
“Harvard is fully committed to maintaining our ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University — and this nation — immeasurably,” Newton said.
He warned that the directive “threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”
Harvard’s international student body numbered 6,793 during the 2024–25 academic year, reflecting a steady rise over the last two decades. Though the university has one of the largest endowments in the country and offers need-based aid to foreign students, the economic impact could still be significant, especially for certain departments that rely heavily on international enrollment.
Harvard has already faced more than $2.7 billion in federal funding freezes under Trump’s second term and is currently embroiled in a legal battle with the White House over what it alleges is politically motivated interference in its admissions and governance policies.
The legal challenges ahead
Legal experts say the administration’s action is likely to face immediate court challenges. “This is wrong, it is small-minded and it’s illegal,” Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, told The Washington Post. “There are processes in place to revoke an institution’s certification. The administration has not even nodded to any of those.”
Miriam Feldblum, president of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, agreed, saying DHS had not complied with its own regulations. “Even if there were a credible case… they have not followed the system for decertification, which includes an appeals process — none of which occurred,” she was quoted as saying by the Post.
Why now and what has White House said?
The policy shift comes amid broader federal crackdowns on campus protests related to the war in Gaza. Last month, DHS paused the deactivation of student records in its visa database following lawsuits challenging the administration’s handling of student visa terminations.
The Trump administration has framed the decision as a defence of American values. Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, said Thursday: “Harvard has turned their once-great institution into a hotbed of anti-American, antisemitic, pro-terrorist agitators… Now they must face the consequences of their actions.”
