Trump halts Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students

The Trump administration has once again thrown elite academia into turmoil — this time by halting Harvard University’s ability to enrol international students.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem informed Harvard that its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification was “revoked effective immediately.”

“I am writing to inform you that, effective immediately, Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked,” the letter read.

In a social media post she blamed Harvard for, "holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus."

She added, "It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enrol foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law."

She also said that this will



serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.

In response, Harvard University has criticised the US Department of Homeland Security's decision to block its ability to enrol international students. In an official statement, Harvard called the move "unlawful" and said it would continue to support international students from more than 140 countries.

Harvard is likely to file a second legal challenge in response to the recent action. The university filed a lawsuit last month against the administration over attempts to alter its curriculum, admissions procedures, and hiring policies.

The action follows three weeks after Harvard submitted disciplinary records of foreign students requested by the Trump administration in mid-April. Administrators have refused to detail what data was shared with the agency.

On April 16, the DHS had first sent Harvard a letter asking the university to report information on foreign students' activities on campus, including participation in protests. Noem had threatened to withdraw Harvard's SEVP certification if it failed to comply.