US Bars Harvard from Hosting Foreign Students, Prompting Mass Transfers

In a decision rooted in national security concerns, the Trump administration has stripped Harvard University of its authority to admit international students.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that Harvard will no longer be permitted to enrol foreign students—a move that has drawn widespread criticism as politically charged and possibly illegal.

The directive, issued by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, cancels Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program starting with the 2025–2026 academic session. This development will compel current international students to either transfer to other institutions or risk losing their immigration status.

Noem alleged that Harvard is “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.” She added, “It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enrol foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments.”

According to officials, the decision came after Harvard declined to share extensive documentation regarding international student visa holders, including surveillance from campus demonstrations over the past five years.

In its response, Harvard condemned the decision as “unlawful” and “retaliatory,” asserting its commitment to supporting its students. “This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” the university said. It emphasized that it remains “fully committed” to educating international students.

Data from the university indicates that nearly 6,800 international students were enrolled at Harvard during the 2024–2025 school year, accounting for 27% of the student body. The largest share came from China, followed by Canada, India, South Korea, the UK, Germany, Australia, Singapore, and Japan.

This decision fits into a broader initiative by the Trump administration to overhaul the U.S. higher education system. Since taking office with a tough stance on immigration, Trump has accused universities of endorsing “anti-American, Marxist and radical left ideologies.” Harvard has often been singled out, especially for employing well-known Democrats and allegedly failing to adequately address campus antisemitism.

In a related action earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services withdrew $60 million in grants from Harvard, citing its purported inability to combat antisemitic and racial bias.

That cutback followed a previous freeze on approximately $3 billion in research funding, a decision that led Harvard to pursue legal action to restore the funds.

Separately, a federal judge ruled on Thursday that the government cannot revoke foreign students’ legal status across the U.S. without following standard regulatory protocols. The implications of this ruling on Harvard’s situation remain unclear.

Democratic leaders swiftly rebuked the administration’s decision. U.S. Representative Jaime Raskin called it “an intolerable attack on Harvard’s independence and academic freedom,” accusing Trump’s team of retaliating against the university for its political stance.

Immigrant rights groups also voiced strong opposition. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow with the American Immigration Council, remarked that the measure “needlessly punishes thousands of innocent students.” He continued on Bluesky, “None of them have done anything wrong; they’re just collateral damage to Trump.”

Secretary Noem warned that additional institutions, such as Columbia University, may soon face similar penalties. “Absolutely, we are,” she confirmed. “This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together.”

As this political and legal confrontation develops, many international students at Harvard find themselves in a precarious situation, caught between government policy, institutional autonomy, and ideological battles.