Cambridge (TDI): In an unprecedented move that has sent shockwaves through the academic community, the Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively halting its ability to enroll international students.
The decision, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, threatens the legal status and academic futures of over 6,700 international students who make up 27% of Harvard’s student body.
Harvard University has called the move “unlawful,” vowing to challenge the action and defend its commitment to global scholarship.
This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.
It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments… pic.twitter.com/12hJWd1J86
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 22, 2025
“This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” the university stated.
The decision follows escalating tensions between Harvard and the Trump administration, which has demanded sweeping changes to the university’s admissions, hiring, and teaching practices under the guise of combating antisemitism.
Harvard has described these demands as attempts to regulate its intellectual environment and has filed suit against the administration.
Under the new directive, international students currently at Harvard must transfer to other institutions to maintain legal status, unless the university complies with intrusive demands—including turning over disciplinary records and campus surveillance footage of international students—within 72 hours.
The news has left international students in turmoil. “We’re being used as poker chips in a battle between the White House and Harvard,” said Leo Gerdén, a graduating student from Sweden.
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“It’s incredibly dehumanizing.” His concerns were echoed by Sarah Davis, an Australian graduate student, who said the uncertainty comes just days before graduation: “We’re all just sitting back and waiting.”
This is not the first time the Trump administration has taken aim at foreign students, having previously attempted mass visa cancellations, which triggered nationwide legal challenges. On Thursday, a federal judge in California temporarily blocked such efforts, providing some relief amid ongoing litigation.
“We came here because of what America stands for: freedom of speech, academic freedom, and intellectual vibrancy,” Gerdén said. “Without international students, Harvard is simply not Harvard anymore.”
Harvard reaffirms its unwavering support for its international community and is working urgently to resolve the crisis.
Areeba Kanwal is a contributor at The Diplomatic Insight and has passion for International Relations and diplomacy.
