WASHINGTON (AP): The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University‘s authority to enroll international students, escalating a clash with the Ivy League institution and impacting thousands of foreign enrollees.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the decision Thursday, alleging that Harvard has fostered an unsafe campus by allowing anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass Jewish students.
The agency also accused the university of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party, citing training provided to members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024.
DHS said in a statement that this action bars Harvard from enrolling new international students and requires current ones to transfer or face loss of legal status.
Harvard, which enrolls nearly 6,800 international students, over a quarter of its student body, strongly condemned the move, calling it illegal and retaliatory.
This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and undermines our academic and research mission, the university said in response.
The move comes amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and elite universities, which the administration has accused of liberal bias and insufficient action against antisemitism
The government previously cut $2.6 billion in federal funding to Harvard and is pushing to revoke its tax-exempt status.
The administration’s decision followed an April 16 demand by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for records on international students allegedly involved in campus protests or violence.
In a letter sent Thursday, Noem cited Harvard’s failure to comply with simple reporting requirements and gave the school 72 hours to turn over comprehensive documentation, including footage of foreign students at protests.
“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordination with the Chinese Communist Party, Noem said.
The action revokes Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, effectively suspending its ability to sponsor student visas for the 2025–26 academic year.
Harvard President Alan Garber said the university has made significant changes to address antisemitism but emphasized that it will not compromise its legally protected principles. He added that there is no evidence to suggest international students are more prone to misconduct than domestic peers.
Student and civil liberties groups condemned the administration’s move. The Harvard College Democrats labeled it textbook authoritarianism, while the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression called the record demand a sweeping fishing expedition” that infringes on protected speech.
The revocation adds fuel to a contentious national debate over campus speech and safety. DHS officials cited a recent internal Harvard report indicating widespread bias against Jewish students, and they reinforced Republican claims of improper ties between U.S. universities and Chinese entities.
In response to allegations of CCP coordination, a Harvard spokesperson said the university would reply directly to the House Republicans’ inquiry.
Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, called the action “illegal” and warned it could deter international students from choosing U.S. institutions.
This sends a chilling message, Mitchell said.
The Trump administration has increasingly used immigration enforcement tools to police higher education institutions.
Its moves to cancel student visas have been repeatedly challenged in court, with judges issuing nationwide injunctions to block further terminations.
