What Happened:
In a bold and controversial move, the Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year. This decision affects thousands of students and escalates tensions between the federal government and one of America’s most prestigious universities.
Who Ordered This?
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, under President Trump’s leadership, made the decision. She terminated Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, which is necessary to admit foreign students on visas.
Why the Crackdown?
Secretary Noem accused Harvard of:
- Fostering violence and antisemitism on campus
- Failing to cooperate in investigations into foreign student activities
- Coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party
She said universities shouldn’t be allowed to benefit financially from foreign students while “undermining American values.”
In a statement, Noem said,
“It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments.”
How Many Students Are Affected?
- Harvard currently has 6,800 international students, making up 27% of its total enrollment.
- Chinese students make up the largest group, followed by those from Canada, India, South Korea, Britain, Germany, Australia, Singapore, and Japan.
Without SEVP certification, new foreign students cannot enroll, and current students must transfer to another university or risk losing legal status in the U.S.
What Triggered This?
- The Department of Homeland Security claimed that Harvard refused to hand over records about some foreign students, including video/audio from protests over the past five years.
- As a condition for regaining certification, Harvard was given 72 hours to provide these documents.
- The Trump administration has already frozen $3 billion in federal grants to the university in recent weeks. Harvard is suing to recover those funds.
Harvard’s Response
Harvard called the move illegal and said it was an act of political retaliation:
“This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”
In another legal filing, Harvard said it has strongly condemned antisemitism and has been working to ensure a safe campus for Jewish and Israeli students.
Legal Pushback
- A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot cancel foreign students’ legal status without following proper legal procedures.
- While this ruling doesn’t stop the Harvard decision immediately, it casts legal doubt on the administration’s broader crackdown.
Political Reactions
- Congressional Democrats slammed the decision.
- U.S. Rep. Jaime Raskin called it:
“An intolerable attack on Harvard’s independence and academic freedom.”
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, of the American Immigration Council, said:
“Thousands of innocent students are being used as collateral damage.”
Will Other Universities Be Targeted?
Yes. Noem confirmed that similar actions could be taken against schools like Columbia University, saying:
“This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together.”
Trump has been critical of elite institutions, accusing them of promoting “radical left” ideologies, Marxism, and hiring too many Democrats.
What’s Next?
- International students at Harvard face a deeply uncertain future.
- Legal battles are already underway.
- Other schools could face the same threats.
- Harvard must decide whether to hand over student records or continue to resist.
Why This Matters:
This isn’t just about one university. It’s about:
- Academic freedom
- Immigration policy
- Political interference in education
- The rights of international students who did nothing wrong
It raises major questions about how far a government can go to control universities — and what that means for America’s reputation as a global education hub.
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