In a dramatic escalation of tensions between the White House and Harvard University, the Trump administration has stripped the Ivy League institution of its ability to admit international students, citing alleged violations of federal law.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision on X (formerly Twitter), stating that Harvard’s certification under the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) had been revoked.
“Harvard has failed to comply with the law. As a result, we are rescinding their SEVP certification,” Noem wrote. “Let this be a warning to all educational institutions across the nation: the law will be enforced.”
The move could immediately affect thousands of international students. According to the university’s most recent data, nearly 7,000 international students were enrolled last academic year, representing more than 27% of the total student population.
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In a swift response, Harvard condemned the action as “unlawful” but did not elaborate on what legal steps, if any, it would take to challenge the decision. The university has not issued a formal response beyond its brief statement and has not responded to additional requests for comment.
The administration has not released specific details about the alleged violations that led to the revocation.
Observers see the decision as part of a broader crackdown on immigration and foreign student programs under President Donald Trump’s second term, reigniting debates over academic freedom, international cooperation, and the role of elite institutions in shaping global scholarship.