The Donald Trump’s administration in the United States on Thursday took unprecedented action against Harvard University, revoking its ability to enroll international students under the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
The decision, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, could force thousands of foreign students to leave the country or transfer to other institutions.
In a letter to the Ivy League university, Noem accused Harvard of fostering an “unsafe campus environment” and collaborating with foreign adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Harvard’s SEVP certification was terminated effective immediately.
“Harvard has permitted anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students,” Noem wrote.
“Many of these agitators are foreign nationals abusing their student status to foment unrest and disrupt campus order.”
The letter also alleged that Harvard engaged in “coordinated activity” with the CCP and hosted members of a Chinese paramilitary group allegedly involved in human rights abuses against the Uyghur population.
“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” said Secretary Noem.
“It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll 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. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.”
On April 16, 2025, Secretary Noem demanded Harvard provide information about the criminality and misconduct of foreign students on its campus. Secretary Noem warned refusal to comply with this lawful order would result in SEVP termination.
This action comes after DHS terminated $2.7 million in DHS grants for Harvard last month.
Harvard University brazenly refused to provide the required information requested and ignored a follow up request from the Department’s Office of General Council.
Secretary Noem is following through on her promise to protect students and prohibit terrorist sympathizers from receiving benefits from the U.S. government.
Previously, Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the administration of former President Donald Trump, intensifying a growing conflict between the Ivy League institution and the Republican leader, who has repeatedly targeted elite universities over alleged tolerance of campus anti-Semitism.
The lawsuit, filed in a Massachusetts federal court, accuses the federal government of attempting to force political oversight on the university by threatening to withhold $2.2 billion in federal funding.
Trump has publicly criticised Harvard and other prestigious institutions, accusing them of failing to curb anti-Semitic incidents and pushing diversity initiatives he opposes.
“This case involves the Government’s efforts to use the withholding of federal funding as leverage to gain control of academic decision making at Harvard,” the university stated in its complaint, which also named other schools targeted by Trump’s administration.
Harvard argues that the administration’s actions violate the First Amendment and multiple federal laws, describing them as “arbitrary and capricious.”
The university is seeking a court order to invalidate the funding freeze and the conditions tied to federal grants, as well as reimbursement for legal costs.
The Trump administration has defended its actions as necessary to counter anti-Semitism and roll back diversity programs it views as discriminatory. Harvard, however, has refused to yield to political pressure.
