President Trump bars Harvard from admitting international students
The Trump administration has rescinded Harvard University’s authorization to enroll international students, intensifying a growing conflict between the federal government and the Ivy League school.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Harvard is no longer permitted to admit foreign students. Current international students must transfer to other institutions or risk losing their legal immigration status.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the revocation of Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. The move comes after the university declined to provide DHS with conduct records for international students, as requested last month.
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In a formal letter to Harvard, Noem accused the university of “perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.“
“This serves as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country,” the DHS statement added.
Harvard has emerged as a central target in the Trump administration’s campaign to challenge elite universities over campus policies, particularly in relation to protests surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict, and to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs the administration deems discriminatory.
In response, Harvard denounced the action as unlawful and reaffirmed its dedication to supporting its international community, which includes students and scholars from more than 140 countries.
We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community, said university spokesperson Jason Newton. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.
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Harvard’s international academic community consists of 9,970 individuals, including 6,793 international students who make up 27.2% of the student body for the 2024–2025 academic year.
Faculty members have voiced concerns that the policy could undermine Harvard’s academic excellence and, in turn, diminish the strength of American higher education as a whole.
The White House responded by stating,
Enrolling foreign students is a privilege, not a right, and accused Harvard of fostering an anti-American and anti-Semitic environment.
Harvard has turned their once-great institution into a hotbed of pro-terrorist agitators. They have failed to take meaningful action, and now they must face the consequences, said White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson.
Harvard economics professor Jason Furman condemned the decision, describing it as “horrendous on every level.”
It is impossible to imagine Harvard without our amazing international students, Furman said. They benefit innovation and U.S. global influence. Higher education is one of America’s greatest exports and a pillar of our soft power. I hope this is reversed before irreparable damage is done
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