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The Trump administration Thursday, May 22, revoked Harvard University’s right to enroll international students, effectively ejecting thousands of learners from one of the world’s most prestigious institutions and thrusting higher education into the center of a political and ideological storm.
The move, announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), follows a months-long standoff between federal officials and Harvard leadership. At the heart of the dispute: Harvard’s refusal to comply with sweeping federal demands for conduct records tied to its foreign student population.
As it stands, the ruling invalidates Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), forcing all currently enrolled international students to either transfer to other institutions or leave the country. No new foreign students will be allowed to enroll.
“Enrolling foreign students is a privilege, not a right,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in a statement, accusing Harvard of harboring “pro-terrorist agitators” and failing to protect Jewish students on campus.
The DHS gave the university 72 hours to hand over five years’ worth of student conduct data, especially involving foreign nationals linked to campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war. The administration claims some of these students engaged in “dangerous” or “illegal” acts, pointing to footage of demonstrations as part of its evidence.
A Blow for Students
For thousands of international students, many of whom beat impossible odds to earn a spot at Harvard, the announcement landed like a thunderclap.
Jared, an incoming sociology student from New Zealand, called it a “heart-drop moment.” Accepted earlier this year, he was preparing to move across the world to Boston when the news hit. “I’ve dreamed about this for years,” he said. “Now I’m scrambling for answers.”
Karl Molden, a junior from Austria, is stuck abroad, unsure if he’ll be allowed back into the U.S. for the fall semester. “We’re being used as pawns in a broader political struggle,” he said. “It’s terrifying.”
Nearly 6,800 international students, more than a quarter of Harvard’s student body, now find themselves in limbo, along with 3,000 scholars and researchers from abroad. The ripple effects may disrupt global academic partnerships, scientific collaborations, and long-planned research projects.
Harvard Strikes Back
Harvard University responded with swift condemnation, calling the move “legally indefensible” and “deeply retaliatory.”
“This action jeopardizes our ability to pursue our academic mission and threatens the wellbeing of our global community,” said university spokesperson Jason Newton.
The university is preparing legal action and has launched emergency support systems for affected students.
Harvard argues that DHS demands, including audits of students’ political views and disciplinary histories, violate constitutional rights and academic freedom. Officials at the university say while they’ve taken steps to address antisemitism and campus tensions, the administration’s approach amounts to a political crackdown masquerading as security policy.
The crisis marks the latest and most extreme flashpoint in an ongoing ideological battle between the Trump White House and elite universities.
In recent months, the administration has pushed institutions to overhaul diversity programs, monitor student protests, and discipline faculty whose views clash with conservative orthodoxy. Harvard, often seen as a symbol of liberal academia, has been a prime target.
In addition to revoking its SEVP certification, the administration has frozen $2.2 billion in federal research funding to the university and is reportedly considering stripping Harvard of its tax-exempt status.
“This is not just about Harvard, it’s a warning shot to every university in America,” Noem said in a Fox News interview. “Clean up, or face the consequences.”
Despite mounting pressure, Harvard has resisted many of the administration’s directives. While it has renamed its Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging to “Community and Campus Life,” university officials say they won’t compromise on academic autonomy or political neutrality.
Backlash from Academia and Abroad
The response from academic circles has been one of alarm. Former White House economic adviser and Harvard professor Jason Furman called the decision “horrendous,” warning it could cripple U.S. innovation and diminish the country’s global standing.
“Harvard without international students is not Harvard,” he said. “This move threatens not just our university, but American leadership in education and research.”
The university’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors said in a statement that the administration’s action amounts to an “assault on the foundational principles of higher education.”
Foreign governments have also begun weighing in. Australia’s ambassador to the U.S., Kevin Rudd, said the action is “distressing” for Australian students and promised consular support as the situation unfolds.
While the administration frames the decision as a national security measure, critics say it represents something far more dangerous: the politicization of education. In the coming days, Harvard is expected to mount a full legal challenge to regain its certification and protect its students.
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