The Trump administration has taken a rare and serious step against Harvard University. It has removed Harvard’s permission to accept international students through a federal program called the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
This decision was made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Because of this, thousands of foreign students might have to leave the United States or find other schools to attend.
In a letter to Harvard, Secretary Noem said the university is not safe. She accused Harvard of working with foreign enemies like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The Department of Homeland Security ended Harvard’s SEVP certification immediately. This means Harvard can no longer enroll international students under this program.
Noem said Harvard allowed groups that are against America and support terrorism to bother and even attack people on campus, including many Jewish students.
She also said many of these troublemakers are foreign students who misuse their student status to create problems and disturb peace on campus.
The letter also claimed Harvard worked with the Chinese Communist Party and welcomed members of a Chinese paramilitary group accused of hurting Uyghur people.
Noem said the government is holding Harvard responsible for violence, antisemitism, and helping the CCP on campus.
She explained that universities don’t have a right to enroll foreign students or take their tuition money—it’s a privilege. Harvard lost this privilege because it did not follow the law.
On April 16, 2025, Noem asked Harvard to provide details about crimes and bad behavior by foreign students. She warned that ignoring this request would end their student program.
This action followed the Department of Homeland Security cutting $2.7 million in grants to Harvard last month.
Harvard refused to give the requested information and ignored another request from the Department’s legal office.
Secretary Noem is following through on her promise to protect students and stop people who support terrorists from getting benefits from the U.S. government.
Before this, Harvard had sued the Trump administration. This showed a growing conflict between the university and Trump, who has often criticized elite universities for not stopping antisemitism.
The lawsuit says the government is trying to control Harvard’s decisions by threatening to stop $2.2 billion in federal funding.
Trump has publicly criticized Harvard and other top schools for not stopping antisemitism and for supporting diversity programs he opposes.
Harvard says the government’s actions violate the First Amendment and other laws, and calls them unfair and unreasonable.
The university wants a court to cancel the funding freeze and the conditions on federal grants. It also wants the government to pay its legal costs.
The Trump administration says its actions are needed to fight antisemitism and end diversity programs it sees as unfair. Harvard, however, refuses to give in to this political pressure.
