In a dramatic and controversial move, the Trump administration has stripped Harvard University of its right to enroll international students, sending shockwaves through academia and raising global concerns about educational freedom in the United States.
On Thursday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has been terminated. This unprecedented decision means that current international students at the university must transfer to another institution or risk deportation.
Noem claims the decision stems from Harvard’s alleged promotion of antisemitism, tolerance of campus unrest, and supposed coordination with the Chinese Communist Party. These accusations come amidst broader efforts by the Trump administration to reshape American higher education, particularly targeting elite institutions perceived to support liberal ideologies.
“It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to host foreign students and profit from their high tuition fees,” Noem declared, taking aim at Harvard’s multibillion-dollar endowment and its influence on U.S. culture and politics.
Harvard, in a swift and strong rebuttal, dismissed the accusations as baseless and declared the move illegal. The university emphasized that this action could cause “serious harm to the Harvard community and our country,” while also undermining its academic and research missions.
The university pledged unwavering support for its nearly 6,800 international students—about 27% of its student population—and said it is urgently working on providing guidance and alternatives for those affected.
This development follows earlier tensions between Harvard and the Department of Homeland Security, including the university’s refusal to hand over specific information about foreign students when previously requested by Noem. It’s also part of a larger crackdown by the Trump administration on elite academic institutions that have resisted conservative policy shifts.
President Donald Trump, who has returned to office vowing to dismantle what he sees as Marxist and radical-left ideologies in education, has often singled out Harvard. He has criticized the institution for hiring liberal figures and Democrats into key leadership roles and accused it of being out of touch with American values.
This decision is likely to trigger legal battles, academic backlash, and international outrage—especially from countries whose students dream of attending prestigious U.S. schools. Critics argue that this move undermines U.S. leadership in global education and deters talent from coming to America.
With Harvard caught in the political crossfire, the fate of thousands of young scholars hangs in the balance—many of whom have spent years preparing to study in the U.S. This escalating clash between politics and education may reshape how the world views America’s openness and leadership in global learning.
