In a move with sweeping consequences for higher education,the Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, escalating its ongoing conflict with the Ivy League institution and raising serious questions about the future of thousands of foreign school.
The decision, announced Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), applies to all new international students for the 2025–2026 academic year, and requires current foreign students at Harvard who have not yet completed their degrees to transfer to another institution or lose their legal status in the U.S.
The administration’s rationale stems from what DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described as Harvard’s failure to comply with federal requests for student records, including documentation related to protest activity and disciplinary actions. In a letter, Noem accused Harvard of fostering a campus climate “hostile to Jewish students” and criticized its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, labeling them as racially discriminatory.
Harvard swiftly condemned the decision, calling it “unlawful” and “damaging to the university’s academic mission,” especially in the realm of international research collaboration. The university confirmed it was providing guidance to its roughly 6,800 international students, most of whom are enrolled in graduate-level programs.
What It Means for Students
Rare and Unprecedented Action
While DHS has the authority to remove schools from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)—a program that allows U.S. institutions to sponsor student visas—such moves typically occur for administrative failures, such as the loss of accreditation or lack of qualified faculty. Experts say this is the first time SEVP eligibility has been revoked for political or ideological reasons.
“This is unprecedented,” said Sarah Spreitzer, vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education. “I’ve never seen it revoked for any reason besides the administrative issues listed in the statute.”
A Broader Campaign Against Harvard
The visa decision is the latest salvo in an escalating feud between the Trump administration and Harvard. Since April, federal agencies have:
The confrontation began after Harvard refused to comply with Trump administration demands to curb pro-Palestinian protests and dismantle DEI programs. The administration’s actions have drawn criticism from civil liberties groups and prompted the university to file a lawsuit seeking to block the grant freezes.
What’s Next?
The DHS has offered Harvard a 72-hour deadline to comply with its requests for internal records and protest-related surveillance footage if it wishes to regain SEVP certification. As of now, no indication has been given that the university will comply.
Harvard’s legal team is expected to seek injunctive relief, possibly as early as next week, in federal court. If upheld, the revocation could set a precedent affecting international student mobility, academic freedom, and the relationship between U.S. higher education and government oversight.
For now, thousands of international students are left in limbo, caught between geopolitical confrontation and their pursuit of academic goals in one of the world’s most prestigious institutions.
Hungary has strongly criticised NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s warning that Russia could be capable of attacking the alliance within five years...
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to halt all shooting from Friday evening following renewed fighting along their shared border, U.S. President Donald...
China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday that it will introduce a licensing system for steel exports starting in 2026, covering around 300 s...
Venezuela’s oil shipments have plunged following the United States’ seizure of a tanker earlier this week....
The Kremlin on Friday dismissed proposals for a ceasefire to allow a territorial referendum in Ukraine, describing any pause in hostilities as a tacti...
Venezuela’s oil shipments have plunged following the United States’ seizure of a tanker earlier this week.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The White House has confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump intends to maintain both a “good working relationship” with China and a “very strong alliance” with Japan, even as tensions between the two countries continue to rise.
Putin’s visit to India has put the spotlight on New Delhi’s evolving defence strategy as it seeks to modernise Russian-made systems with domestic production. At the same time, India is carefully navigating its ties with the U.S. and Europe ahead of key diplomatic visits.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
Kyiv has escalated its naval campaign against Moscow’s economic lifelines, claiming a successful strike on a vessel suspected of skirting international sanctions within the Black Sea.
Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat said Friday that discussions in Washington with U.S. officials have strengthened efforts to expand bilateral trade, moving closer to a $100 billion target.
Lebanon is prepared to demarcate its border with Syria, President Joseph Aoun said on Friday, while noting that the dispute over the Shebaa Farms could be addressed at a later stage.
Greek farmers blocked the Port of Thessaloniki on Friday as part of nationwide protests demanding delayed European Union subsidies and compensation for rising production costs and livestock losses.
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif held talks on Friday during the International Peace and Trust Forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, focusing on bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues
ussian President Vladimir Putin described Moscow’s relations with Baghdad as historically strong and unbroken during a meeting with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid in Turkmenistan.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment