In a stunning move that could upend the academic careers of hundreds of international students, the Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s certification to enroll foreign students, citing what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described as “pro-terrorist conduct” and noncompliance with federal records requests.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision Wednesday, stating that Harvard had repeatedly refused to cooperate with federal inquiries and was fostering a campus climate that included violence, antisemitism, and foreign interference.
“It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students,” Noem said. “Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused.” As a result, the Ivy League university has lost its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
Effective immediately, Harvard will be barred from enrolling foreign students for the 2025–2026 academic year, and current international students must transfer or lose their legal status before the start of the next school year unless the university complies with DHS demands.
Demands for Records, Footage of Protest Activity
The Department is accusing Harvard of stonewalling requests for disciplinary records and video footage of student visa holders involved in recent pro-Palestinian protests, many of which have been accused of promoting antisemitic and pro-Hamas rhetoric.
In a letter to Harvard immigration director Maureen Martin, Noem wrote:
“You have lost this privilege as a result of your brazen refusal to comply with multiple requests to provide the Department of Homeland Security pertinent information… and for perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students.”
The records in question include:
Footage of any protest activity involving students on visas.
Disciplinary records of all visa-holding students over the past five years.
Documentation of any threats, violence, or rights violations committed by those students.
Noem offered Harvard 72 hours to comply fully if it hopes to regain certification before the next academic year. She referred to Harvard’s previous responses as “insufficient, incomplete, and unacceptable.”
Political and Financial Pressure Mounting
The decision follows a broader crackdown on elite universities by the Trump administration, which has already frozen nearly $3 billion in federal research funding to Harvard and launched multiple investigations via the Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services Departments.
The administration claims Harvard has failed to address rising campus antisemitism and has continued to enforce DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies that they argue discriminate against political and religious minorities.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress this week that “thousands” of student visas have been revoked, adding, “We will proudly revoke more. A visa is a privilege, not a right.”
Backlash Over Foreign Influence and DEI Culture
Conservatives have long criticized Harvard for its ties to the Chinese Communist Party and its ideological alignment with left-wing political causes, especially on issues like race, gender, and foreign policy. The Trump administration has now linked these criticisms to national security concerns, using the visa system as a tool to enforce compliance.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) warned last week, “I’m worried about the safety of the president and the country. Qatar, China—these are not our friends, and they’re embedded in our institutions.”
Noem echoed that sentiment, saying the visa revocation is a “warning shot” to all universities:
“Consequences must follow to send a clear signal… The Trump administration will enforce the law and root out the evils of antisemitism on campuses.”
Harvard Silent Amid Mounting Scrutiny
Harvard has not issued an official response to the DHS decision. However, last month, the university quietly allowed international admits to accept dual enrollment offers—something typically barred—signaling that administrators were bracing for federal action.
According to reports, at least a dozen students have already had their authorization to study in the U.S. revoked over protest-related activity.
Many other foreign students now face a forced transfer, deportation, or legal limbo if the university fails to comply in time.
