Government Revokes Harvard’s Authority to Admit Foreign Students

By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu

Trump administration has rescinded Harvard University’s authorization to enroll international students, citing noncompliance with federal oversight demands and concerns about campus policies.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision in a formal letter Thursday, stating that Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) had been revoked with immediate effect. SEVIS is the program that governs the admission of foreign students into the United States.

The revocation follows weeks of tension between the university and the administration. President Donald Trump had warned in April that Harvard could lose its ability to admit foreign students unless it submitted to government oversight regarding its admissions and hiring processes.

Trump has accused the university of fostering what he called a hostile environment toward Jewish students and advancing political ideologies he opposes.

“It is a privilege to enroll foreign students,” Noem wrote. “All universities must comply with Department of Homeland Security requirements to maintain this privilege.”

The letter also cited Harvard’s alleged failure to provide requested information and its adherence to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies that the administration characterized as racially discriminatory. Additionally, the government accused the university of allowing pro-Hamas sentiments on campus, contributing to what it called an unsafe environment.

According to Harvard’s data, international students made up over 27% of its student population in the 2024–2025 academic year. Harvard has not yet released a public statement in response to the decision.