The decision not only affects prospective enrollees but also currently enrolled non-American students at Harvard, who now face losing their student visas unless they transfer to other universities. Moreover, the decision is seen as both a warning and a threat to other educational institutions that fail to comply with White House demands—demands that Harvard had already rejected as illegal.
“Harvard may no longer enroll foreign students, and existing students must transfer or lose their legal status,” the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
Harvard, in its announcement, described the move as “illegal” and stated that it would challenge the Trump administration’s action by all means available.
Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the termination of Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
The statement reiterated the Trump administration’s claim that:
“Harvard is being held accountable for cooperating with the [Chinese Communist Party], and for promoting violence, antisemitism, and pro-terrorist behavior among students on its campus.”
“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments…”
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem), May 22, 2025
“Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country,” Noem wrote on X.
Harvard’s Response
Harvard condemned the Department of Homeland Security’s move as an “illegal retaliatory action” that threatens to inflict serious damage on the institution.
In a statement, the University said:
“The administration’s action is illegal. We remain fully committed to maintaining our ability to host international students and scholars from over 140 countries and to enrich the University. This retaliatory measure poses serious harm to the Harvard community and our nation, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”
It’s worth noting that Harvard had previously refused to provide information requested by Kristi Noem regarding certain holders of student visas attending the university.
According to university data, nearly 7,000 foreign students were enrolled at Harvard in the past academic year, making up 27.2% of the student body.
What Led to This: Trump’s Demands on the Historic University
The complete breakdown between the Trump administration and Harvard began in mid-April, when the University categorically refused to comply with a set of demands imposed by Washington, which Harvard labeled as “illegal.”
The administration responded immediately by freezing $2.2 billion in funding and suspending a $60 million contract.
The government’s letter to Harvard listed a number of requirements that would radically change the way the university operates.
Among the demands:
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Submission of all admissions data, including data on rejected and accepted applicants, categorized by race, ethnicity, GPA, and standardized test scores.
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Plagiarism checks for all current and prospective faculty members.
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Abolition of all programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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Immediate reporting of international students with disciplinary offenses to federal authorities.
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External audits of academic programs with a “history of antisemitism,” such as the School of Public Health, the Medical School, and the Divinity School.
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Evaluation of “political diversity” in departments, with possible government intervention to enhance it.
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Hiring oversight by the federal government, at least until 2028.
These are demands that, according to Harvard’s administration, constitute an “unprecedented violation of academic freedom and the constitutional autonomy of a private educational institution.”
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