The Trump administration on Thursday rescinded Harvard University’s certification to enroll international students, who account for more than a quarter of the institution’s student body. The move marks a major intensification in former President Donald Trump’s dispute with the prestigious university.
The decision comes after Harvard declined to comply with federal demands for increased oversight of its admissions and hiring practices. Trump has accused the university of fostering anti-Semitism and advancing what he describes as a “woke” liberal agenda.
Harvard, which counts 162 Nobel laureates among its affiliates, has strongly defended its institutional independence and denied the accusations. The revocation is likely to trigger significant legal and political backlash, with experts warning of its potential impact on academic freedom and the future of international education in the U.S.
In a letter addressed to Harvard, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated: “Effective immediately, Harvard University’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) is revoked.” SEVIS is the system that manages the enrollment of international students in the U.S.
Trump had previously warned that Harvard could lose its ability to admit foreign students if it failed to comply with government directives aimed at increasing federal control over the private institution.
“It is a privilege—not a right—for universities to host foreign students,” Noem wrote. “All institutions must adhere to Department of Homeland Security regulations, including specific reporting requirements, to retain this privilege.”
The letter cited Harvard’s refusal to provide requested information, claims of fostering an unsafe campus environment, accusations of hostility toward Jewish students, support for pro-Hamas sentiments, and the implementation of what the administration called racially divisive “diversity, equity, and inclusion” policies.
University records indicate that international students make up more than 27% of Harvard’s total enrollment.