In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration has revoked Harvard University's certification to enroll international students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This decision affects approximately 6,800 international students—about 27% of Harvard's student body—who now face the prospect of transferring to other institutions or leaving the United States.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the revocation, attributing it to Harvard's alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus and purported coordination with the Chinese Communist Party. The Department of Homeland Security has given Harvard 72 hours to provide records related to international students' activities to regain its certification.
Harvard has condemned the move as "unlawful" and is working to support affected students. The university asserts that this action threatens its academic mission and the diverse community it fosters.
This development is part of a broader crackdown on elite academic institutions by the Trump administration, raising concerns about the future of international education in the United States.