Trump vs Harvard: The Trump administration has barred Harvard University from enrolling foreign students and has asked the existing international students to transfer or lose legal status. The decision came after Harvard University refused to agree to the administration’s policy demands. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement: “Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status.”
In April, the DHS had requested Harvad University to turn over the conduct records of foreign students. But following the university’s refusal, the US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem directed her department to scrap Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification.
Why Did The Trump Administration Make This Decision?
The Trump Administration took this decision after the Harvard University failed to provide requested records about the international students.
In a statement to CNN, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said, “They have repeatedly failed to take action to address the widespread problems negatively impacting American students and now they must face the consequences of their actions.”
What the Trump Administration’s Letter to Harvard Reveals
In a letter to Harvard on Thursday, Kristi Noem accused the university of “perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes-pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist “diversity, equity and inclusion’ practices.”
The Trump administration has imposed several retaliatory measures against Harvard, including freezing USD 2.2 billion in federal funds – a move the university is fighting in court. The Internal Revenue Service is also planning to rescind Harvard’s tax-exempt status, CNN reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
The Trump administration seems to use Harvard as an example, as it threatens similar punishment to other institutions if they do not agree to their demands. While speaking to Fox News, Noem said, “This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together.”
Trump Vs Harvard: What’s The Conflict?
Harvard and the Trump administration have been engaged in a conflict for months as the administration demands the university make changes to the programming of the institution, hiring and administration to remove on-campus antisemitism and remove what it termed “racist ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ practices.” The administration has targeted foreign students and employees, it believes were part of the contentious campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war.
However, the university leadership said that many of the requests, including an “audit” of the “viewpoint” of its students and staff, go far beyond the role of the federal government and may breach the constitutional rights of Harvard.
Harvard is among dozens of US universities facing similar demands from the Trump administration. However, it has not refused to agree to the demands and has defended academic independence.
How The Decision Affects Harvard’s International Students
The administration’s decision could affect more than a quarter of Harvard’s heavily international student body, who have been worried by the announcement. Professors have warned that a mass exodus of foreign students threatens to restrain the institution’s academic prowess even as it fights against the Trump administration for its ideological autonomy, according to CNN report.
On Thursday, the White House said, “Enrolling foreign students is a privilege, not a right.” It accused Harvard leadership of turning “their once-great institution into a hot-bed of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators.”
What This Means For Harvard?
Foreign students contribution to tuition revenue is significant. Also, the Trump administration has deducted billions in federal research grants. Robert Kelchen, a professor at the University of Tennessee who researches finances, told Reuters: “It’s just another financial hit on top of several hits that have already come for big research universities. At this point the only thing that hasn’t been touched is student financial aid.”
Will Harvard Be Allowed to Host Foreign Students Again?
If the Harvard University complies within by producing extensive documents within 72 hours, it could restore its SEVP certification, said Noem. The demands include “disciplinary records for international students, plus any audio and video recordings of protest activity.”
Harvard’s Response
The university condemned the SEVP revocation, calling it “unlawful” and said in a statement that it is “fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University – and this nation – immeasurably.”
Harvard University spokesperson Jason Newton said, “We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”
According to the university, it has 9,970 people in its international academic population, and data shows 6,793 international students comprise 27.2 per cent of its enrollment in the 2024-25 academic year.
Harvard has made some changes in its policy to comply with the Trump administration’s requests, including changing the name of its Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging to Community and Campus Life.
How Common Is This Type Of Visa Revocation?
Experts call it highly unusual. “This is unprecedented. I’ve never seen it revoked for any reason besides the administrative issues listed in the statute,” Sarah Spreitzer, vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education, told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Students React
Amid widespread uncertainty and fear following the Trump administration’s decision, a student told AFP, “Everyone’s panicking a bit.” Another said, “It’s scary and it’s saddening… getting into the school has been the greatest privilege of my life.”
What Do Critics Say?
Critics called it a politically motivated overreach. Ted Mitchell of the American Council on Education called it an “illegal, small-minded” decision. A Harvard student group said in a statement, “Trump’s attack on international students is textbook authoritarianism.”
What’s Next For Harvard?
To counter the previous actions, Harvard has filed lawsuits. Legal experts believe that the latest decision by the Trump administration could also lead to legal action from Harvard. Recently, federal judges ruled that proper procedures must be followed when making changes to student visa status.
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