Friday, May 23, 2025 - Harvard University has denounced the Trump administration’s decision to revoke its ability to enrol international students, labelling the move as “unlawful” and retaliatory. The elite institution, which currently hosts students from more than 140 countries, warned that the decision would inflict serious harm not only on its academic mission but also on the broader national interest.
In a statement issued Friday, May 23, Harvard spokesperson
Jason Newton said the university is working urgently to support those affected
by the federal action. “We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability
to host international students and scholars,” he stated. “This retaliatory
action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and
undermines Harvard's academic and research mission.”
The move comes amid escalating tensions between the Trump
administration and major academic institutions. More than 6,000 international
students were enrolled at Harvard in the 2024–2025 academic year, making up
over 27% of the student body. The university noted that these students
typically contribute more financially than domestic students, paying close to
the full cost of tuition—making their enrolment a significant source of income.
The Trump administration’s latest action follows a series of
confrontations with top universities, including a $2.2 billion freeze on
Harvard’s federal funding last month. That freeze was tied to a list of demands
by the White House, which Harvard reportedly refused to meet. The Department of
Homeland Security subsequently launched an investigation and cited the
university’s alleged failure to address issues including antisemitism and
foreign influence on campus.
In a statement defending the decision, Homeland Security
Secretary Kristi Noem said Harvard had lost its Student and Exchange Visitor
Program (SEVP) certification due to “failure to adhere to the law.” She accused
the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the
Chinese Communist Party,” adding, “It is a privilege, not a right, for
universities to enrol foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition
payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments.”
The administration also issued six conditions that Harvard
must meet to regain its SEVP certification. These include the submission of all
disciplinary records and surveillance footage involving non-immigrant students
over the past five years, documentation of any threats or deprivation of rights
involving those students, and full disclosure of illegal or violent acts
attributed to international students.
This crackdown is part of President Trump’s broader effort to impose stricter regulations on universities, particularly in relation to antisemitism. The policy momentum began with a January 29 executive order aimed at protecting Jewish students in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, which set off a prolonged and deadly conflict in Gaza.
As legal and political fallout continues, Harvard and other institutions are expected to mount legal challenges, potentially reshaping the landscape of international education in the United States.
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