Harvard University has denounced the Trump administration’s decision to revoke its ability to enrol international students, labelling the move as “unlawful” and retaliatory. The elite institution, which currently hosts students from more than 140 countries, warned that the decision would inflict serious harm not only on its academic mission but also on the broader national interest.
In a statement issued Friday, May 23, Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton said the university is working urgently to support those affected by the federal action. “We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host international students and scholars,” he stated. “This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”
The move comes amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and major academic institutions. More than 6,000 international students were enrolled at Harvard in the 2024–2025 academic year, making up over 27% of the student body. The university noted that these students typically contribute more financially than domestic students, paying close to the full cost of tuition—making their enrolment a significant source of income.
The Trump administration’s latest action follows a series of confrontations with top universities, including a $2.2 billion freeze on Harvard’s federal funding last month. That freeze was tied to a list of demands by the White House, which Harvard reportedly refused to meet. The Department of Homeland Security subsequently launched an investigation and cited the university’s alleged failure to address issues including antisemitism and foreign influence on campus.
In a statement defending the decision, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Harvard had lost its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification due to “failure to adhere to the law.” She accused the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party,” adding, “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.”
The administration also issued six conditions that Harvard must meet to regain its SEVP certification. These include the submission of all disciplinary records and surveillance footage involving non-immigrant students over the past five years, documentation of any threats or deprivation of rights involving those students, and full disclosure of illegal or violent acts attributed to international students.
This crackdown is part of President Trump’s broader effort to impose stricter regulations on universities, particularly in relation to antisemitism. The policy momentum began with a January 29 executive order aimed at protecting Jewish students in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, which set off a prolonged and deadly conflict in Gaza.
As legal and political fallout continues, Harvard and other institutions are expected to mount legal challenges, potentially reshaping the landscape of international education in the United States.
