In a dramatic escalation of its fight with Ivy League institutions, President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security announced on Thursday that Harvard University will lose its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification for the 2025–26 school year. The move bars Harvard from enrolling new international students and threatens existing students’ legal status unless they transfer to other SEVP-approved schools.
DHS Order and Harvard’s Response
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem signed the order, accusing Harvard of refusing to provide detailed records on foreign visa holders, including video or audio of their protest activity over the past five years. She warned other universities—“This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together,” she said, mentioning Columbia University as another potential target.
Harvard immediately denounced the measure as unlawful retaliation. The university’s statement declared: “This threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.” It pledged full support for its thousands of foreign students and vowed to challenge the order in court.
Impact on Harvard’s International Student Body
- Enrollment Figures: Nearly 6,800 international students attended Harvard in 2024–25, representing 27% of the total student population.
- Top Countries Represented: In 2022, the largest groups came from China (1,016 students), followed by Canada, India, South Korea, the U.K., Germany, Australia, Singapore, and Japan.
- Economic Contributions: According to NAFSA, foreign students at Harvard spent an estimated $384 million in the 2023–24 academic year, supporting about 3,900 local jobs in housing, dining, retail, and services.
Swedish economics major Leo Gerdén described the news as “heartbreaking.” He told CBC News that his peers feel used “as poker chips in a battle between the White House and Harvard.” The uncertainty has left many worrying about their futures.
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Legal and Political Fallout
Legal experts expect a swift court challenge. Nick Akerman, a former Watergate prosecutor and Harvard Law graduate, called the administration’s action “totally unprecedented” and predicted the courts will block it. In a related case, a federal judge ruled this week that the administration cannot strip foreign students of their visas without proper procedures—though it’s unclear how that decision affects Harvard’s certification.
Congressional Democrats also condemned the move. Representative Jaime Raskin labeled it an “intolerable attack on Harvard’s independence and academic freedom.” Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council warned that “thousands of innocent students” would pay the price for political games.
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Broader Trump Crackdown on Higher Education
This step follows several actions by the Trump administration:
- Freezing Federal Grants: Trump halted billions in NIH and HHS grants to Harvard over alleged failures to curb antisemitism.
- Visa Revocations: The administration attempted to cancel visas for foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests.
- Funding Cuts to Other Schools: Efforts targeted universities accused of harboring “radical left” ideologies.
Trump’s aggressive posture reflects his broader pledge to reshape higher education. He has criticized Harvard for hiring prominent Democrats and faulted it for campus protests. Noem hinted at expanding the crackdown, saying similar penalties could befall other elite institutions.
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The Stakes for U.S. Higher Education
Harvard is not alone in relying on international tuition for revenue. Across U.S. colleges, foreign undergraduates typically pay full tuition, an essential income stream. The loss of certification at Harvard may trigger enrollment declines at other schools, as global students reassess the reliability of U.S. study opportunities.
Alex Usher of Higher Education Strategy Associates warned of a chilling effect. “It sends the message that foreign students will be pawns in domestic political fights,” he said. Potentially deterring applications from around the world.
As Harvard prepares to file suit, thousands of students and their families face an uncertain summer. The courts will soon weigh in on the legality of this unprecedented move. For now, the saga highlights the fragile intersection of politics and education. With Harvard international students caught squarely in the crossfire.
🚨 Stay with TNN for ongoing coverage of this unfolding story. Including legal updates, student reactions, and the broader impact on U.S. higher education.
