“Trump halted the admission of foreign students to Harvard University, outlining six specific conditions for reconsideration.”
#News Bureau May 23,2025
“The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s authority to admit international students, with the decision taking immediate effect. This move follows a series of sharp criticisms by Trump against the university in the wake of anti-Israel protests on campus.”
“The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s authorization to admit international students, with the decision taking immediate effect. The move comes amid ongoing criticism from Donald Trump, who has repeatedly targeted the university following anti-Israel protests on its campus.”
The Trump administration on Thursday intensified its crackdown on Harvard University, revoking the university’s right to enroll international students, citing national security concerns and alleged illegal protests on campus. That is, foreign students can no longer study here. However, the Trump administration has kept open a 72-hour window to withdraw its order. In these 72 hours, Harvard has been asked by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to comply with six strict conditions for re-admitting foreign students.
A letter from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, a copy of which is with the New York Times, reads, “I am informing you that effective immediately, Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification is revoked.” As a result, Harvard can no longer admit foreign students, and existing international students will have to transfer or lose their legal status.
Foreign students are left with only two options – either enroll at another SEVP-certified university or face immigration action, losing legal status to remain in the US.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement reiterating Noem’s message: “Harvard is being held accountable for collaboration with the Chinese Communist Party, incitement to violence, anti-Semitism, and pro-terrorism conduct by students on campus.”
The statement accused Harvard University’s leadership of fostering an unsafe campus atmosphere by “enabling anti-American, pro-terror elements to intimidate and physically assault students, including many from the Jewish community.”
Defending the move on X, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem stated, “Admitting international students is a privilege—not a right. Universities like Harvard have profited immensely from foreign students’ high tuition fees to grow their billion-dollar enterprises. Harvard was given multiple chances to address the issue but chose not to act. Their failure to comply with federal law has led to the revocation of their Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. This should serve as a warning to academic institutions nationwide.”
In response, Harvard University denounced the decision as both “unlawful” and “retaliatory,” warning of its far-reaching consequences.
“The government’s action is unlawful,” the university said in a statement. “We remain deeply committed to welcoming international students and scholars from over 140 countries, who play a vital role in enriching our academic environment. This punitive measure not only harms the Harvard community, but also undermines the United States’ leadership in global education and research.”
The Trump administration’s decision follows Harvard University’s refusal to comply with a records request issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on April 16, 2025. Governor Kristi Noem had requested information related to alleged criminal activities involving foreign students on campus and warned that non-compliance could lead to the revocation of the university’s certification. According to DHS, Harvard failed to respond to multiple follow-ups from the department’s Office of General Counsel.
According to the New York Times report, the decision comes after a long-running dispute between the university and DHS over the validity of the records request. Last month, DHS also terminated a $2.7 million grant for Harvard, further intensifying the confrontation.
6 conditions of the Trump administration
However, the Trump administration has given Harvard University the opportunity to re-enroll foreign students, provided the university submits the following records.
- All records held by Harvard University, whether official or unofficial, including electronic records and audio or video footage, relating to illegal activity committed on or off campus by a nonimmigrant student in the past five years.
- All records held by Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, relating to dangerous or violent activity committed on or off campus by a nonimmigrant student in the past five years.
- All records in Harvard University’s possession, including electronic records and audio or video footage, relating to threats made by a nonimmigrant student to other students or University personnel on or off campus in the past five years.
- All records in Harvard University’s possession, including electronic records and audio or video footage, relating to threats made by a nonimmigrant student to other classmates or University personnel on or off campus in the past five years.
- All disciplinary records of all nonimmigrant students enrolled in the past five years.
- All audio or video footage in Harvard University’s possession of any protest activity involving a nonimmigrant student on Harvard University campus in the past five years.
After its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification is revoked, Harvard can no longer admit foreign students on F-1 or J-1 visas. This has left the careers of about 6,800 international students — a quarter of Harvard’s enrollment — in limbo. About 800 of these students are from India.
