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 Experts say this is the first time SEVP eligibility has been revoked for political or ideological reasons.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.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has underscored the urgent need to ramp up international pressure on Russia following Moscow’s defense of the Iranian regime.
President Donald Trump has said he will make a decision in the coming two weeks on whether the United States will strike Iran, citing a possibility of upcoming negotiations.
Denmark announced it will continue backing Ukraine’s bid for European Union membership despite Hungary’s ongoing blockade, as it prepares to assume the presidency of the European Council on July 1.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, urged the Israeli government to immediately stop its attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites during a press conference at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has underscored the urgent need to ramp up international pressure on Russia following Moscow’s defense of the Iranian regime.
On June 19, the official opening ceremony of the “Azerbaijan” residential complex, constructed by Azerbaijan in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaraş, was held. The event was attended by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
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