NewsHail
23 May 2025
The Trump administration has taken steps to stop Harvard from enrolling international students. This move increases tensions with the university.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on X that Harvard lost its Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. She said it was because Harvard did not follow the law.
She also said this should warn other schools across the country.
Harvard called the action “unlawful” in a statement.
The school said it is working to protect the rights of its international students and staff. These people come from over 140 countries and are a big part of Harvard’s success.
Harvard also said this action could harm the university and the nation. It added that the move could hurt its mission in education and research.
Almost 7,000 international students studied at Harvard last year. That’s about 27% of all students there.
The White House wants Harvard to change how it hires staff, picks students, and teaches. The goal is to fight antisemitism on campus.
The government also warned it may take away Harvard’s tax-free status and stop giving it billions in grants.
Harvard said it is already working on antisemitism. It said the government’s demands try to control free thinking at the school.
In April, Noem said Harvard could lose access to visa programs if it didn’t hand over certain records about international students.
On Thursday, she sent a letter with a list of demands. Harvard must meet them to get back its ability to enroll international students.
The list asks for all student discipline records from the past five years. It also asks for video, audio, and electronic records of any illegal or violent acts by international students.
Harvard has 72 hours to respond.
The Trump administration has worked to limit student visas. This has caused confusion and legal fights at many schools.
Some students lost their visas for things like joining protests or past legal trouble, such as traffic tickets.
