New Delhi: The Trump administration has once again plunged elite academia into chaos — this time by suspending Harvard University’s capacity to enroll international students. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem notified 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 stated.
In a social media post, she accused Harvard of, “holding Harvard accountable for promoting violence, antisemitism, and collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.”
She further stated, “It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and gain from their higher tuition payments to bolster their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had ample opportunity to act correctly. It chose not to. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification due to their failure to comply with the law.”
She also mentioned that this would act as a warning to all universities and academic institutions nationwide.
In reaction, Harvard University has condemned the US Department of Homeland Security’s decision to prevent its ability to enroll international students. In an official statement, Harvard described the action as “unlawful” and asserted it would continue to support international students from over 140 countries.
Harvard is expected to initiate a second legal challenge in response to the recent decision. The university had previously filed a lawsuit last month against the administration regarding attempts to modify its curriculum, admissions processes, and hiring practices.
This action comes three weeks after Harvard provided disciplinary records of foreign students requested by the Trump administration in mid-April. Administrators have declined to specify what information was shared with the agency.
On April 16, the DHS initially sent a letter to Harvard requesting the university to provide details regarding the activities of foreign students on campus, which included their involvement in protests. Noem had warned that Harvard’s SEVP certification would be revoked if the university did not comply.
Indian, international students forced to leave Harvard? What Trump’s move means
According to the official website of Harvard, around 500 to 800 Indian scholars and students enroll at the university each year. Currently, there are 788 Indian students pursuing their studies. Harvard hosts approximately 6,800 international students, making up about 27% of the total student body. The majority of these students are enrolled in graduate programs.
With the recent decision, those affected will need to seek another university for transfer if they wish to continue residing in the US.
CAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM HARVARD?
Students who complete their degrees this semester will be allowed to graduate. A letter from Noem indicated that the revocation will only affect students starting from the 2025–2026 academic year. This means that students graduating in 2025, such as those in Harvard’s Class of 2025, which is scheduled to finish next week, will still receive their degrees.
However, international students who have remaining coursework must transfer to a different institution to maintain their legal status in the country.
