The Trump administration has withdrawn Harvard University’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively stopping the institution from admitting international students for the 2025–26 academic year.

This action affects around 6,800 international students, representing approximately 27% of Harvard’s total student body.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the decision by accusing Harvard of promoting violence, tolerating antisemitism, and maintaining affiliations with the Chinese Communist Party.

She described the ability to enroll international students as a “privilege, not a right,” and criticized the university for what she called inadequate responses to antisemitic incidents and problematic foreign ties.

Harvard has strongly denounced the move, calling it an illegal and retaliatory act that undermines the university’s academic mission and harms its international community. The university affirmed its dedication to supporting students and scholars from more than 140 countries and indicated it would pursue legal action to overcome the decision.

This confrontation is the latest in a series of clashes between Harvard and the administration. It follows the freezing of $2.2 billion in federal funds and the cancellation of over $2.7 million in grants. The administration had previously demanded policy changes, including the acceptance of external political oversight and the disclosure of detailed information on international students—conditions Harvard refused.

With the SEVP certification revoked, current international students will need to transfer, change their immigration status, or leave the U.S. Prospective international students will not be able to secure the necessary visas to attend Harvard in the upcoming academic year.

In response to this, Harvard has reaffirmed its commitment to its global academic community and is exploring all legal options to challenge the administration’s actions.

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