The Trump administration is taking decisive action against Harvard’s ability to sponsor foreign students through the Student and Exchange Visitor Visa Program.
The move comes in response to what DHS has characterized as Harvard’s “pro-terrorist conduct” during recent campus protests and its refusal to comply with federal records requests.
The decision stems from Harvard’s alleged pattern of ignoring DHS requests for information regarding foreign students involved in campus demonstrations.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem made it clear that universities are not entitled to host international students without adhering to legal obligations and national security standards.
“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” said 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.”
As a result, Harvard will be prohibited from enrolling new international students in the 2025–2026 academic year. Current international students must either transfer to another institution or risk losing their legal status in the United States by the start of the