Trump’s Latest Salvo: Harvard Barred from Admitting Foreign Students in Unprecedented Move
In a startling development that has sent shockwaves through the American higher education landscape, the Trump administration has taken the extraordinary step of revoking Harvard University’s authority to admit new international students under the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This aggressive move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing, often acrimonious, relationship between the former president and the venerable Ivy League institution.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its decision, citing a litany of grievances against Harvard.3 Beyond standard compliance issues, the DHS pointed to Harvard’s alleged failure to cooperate with requests for information regarding international student conduct and, more controversially, accused the university of “perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ policies.
The immediate impact of this revocation is severe. Harvard can no longer issue the crucial Form I-20, a document essential for international students to obtain or maintain their F-1 or M-1 visa status. With approximately 6,800 international students currently enrolled – representing over a quarter of its diverse student body – the university faces an unprecedented crisis. These students now stare down the possibility of being forced to transfer to other SEVP-certified institutions or, in a worst-case scenario, losing their legal status in the U.S.The Trump administration has handed Harvard a tight 72-hour deadline to comply with a set of demanding requirements. These include providing disciplinary records for international students and any audio or video footage of protest activity involving them over the past five years.7 Non-compliance, the administration warns, could mean a continued ban on admitting foreign students for the entire 2025-2026 academic year.Harvard University has, predictably, met the administration’s action with fierce condemnation. Labeling it “unlawful” and a “retaliatory action,” the university stated that such a move threatens “serious harm” to its academic mission, its students, and indeed, to the country itself. The university has publicly affirmed its unwavering commitment to supporting its international students and scholars through this turbulent period.
This latest maneuver is widely seen as another front in the Trump administration’s broader campaign against certain academic institutions, particularly those perceived as being at odds with its political agenda. Previous threats have included cuts to federal grants and even the revocation of Harvard’s tax-exempt status, demonstrating a consistent pressure tactic.
Legal experts and scholars are describing this action as highly unusual, potentially unprecedented. SEVP decertifications are typically reserved for administrative or accreditation-related issues, not as a tool to exert ideological or campus climate control. The legal battle that is sure to ensue will undoubtedly set a significant precedent for the autonomy of American universities and the future of international education in the United States.The ramifications extend far beyond Harvard’s campus. This aggressive move could deter prospective international students from choosing the U.S. for their education, impacting not just the diversity of American universities but also the substantial economic contributions made by foreign students. As the clock ticks on Harvard’s 72-hour window, the academic world watches with bated breath, grappling with the profound implications of this escalating confrontation.