The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s certification to enroll foreign students, triggering intense backlash from academic leaders, foreign governments, and students who fear for their futures. The decision, announced Thursday by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, immediately strips the Ivy League university of its right to host international students under the Student and Exchange Visitor (SEVIS) Program.
“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” Noem said in a statement, citing the administration’s concerns about foreign influence and campus activism. The move is part of a broader crackdown on elite institutions that President Trump has accused of harboring “woke” ideology and failing to cooperate with federal oversight demands.
Harvard swiftly condemned the action as “unlawful” and vowed to challenge it in court. “This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country,” the university said, emphasizing its commitment to protecting international students and scholars. More than 27% of Harvard’s current student body consists of foreign nationals, with Chinese students making up over a fifth of that population.
International students have responded with shock and uncertainty. “Everyone’s panicking,” said Alice Goyer, a fourth-year U.S. student, describing the confusion on campus. Austrian student Karl Molden, who studies government and classics, called the decision “scary and saddening,” adding that he had already applied to Oxford as a precaution. “This is definitely going to change how students view the U.S. as a destination for education,” he said.
The revocation is the culmination of weeks of rising tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard. Last month, Trump threatened to cut off international enrollment unless Harvard submitted to federal oversight of its admissions and hiring practices. The administration’s position follows escalating efforts to penalize institutions where students have protested Israel’s actions in Gaza, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealing that thousands of visas have been revoked under laws targeting perceived threats to U.S. foreign policy.
In response to the move, China strongly condemned what it called the “politicization of educational cooperation.” Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning warned the decision would damage the United States’ global reputation and academic influence.
A temporary reprieve may come from the courts. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White issued a nationwide injunction halting any termination of international students’ legal status. While it is unclear how this will directly affect Harvard students, White criticized the administration for having “wreaked havoc” and emphasized the need for “stability.”
Harvard’s faculty leaders have also spoken out, calling the revocation “a nakedly authoritarian and retaliatory move.” In a joint statement, members of the university’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors declared, “The Trump administration is unlawfully seeking to destroy higher education in the United States.”
As legal battles loom, thousands of students, faculty, and families await clarity on a decision that could reshape the future of U.S. higher education.
Written By Rodney Mbua
