In a controversial escalation, the Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s authority to host international students, citing concerns over campus safety, alleged foreign ties, and ideological bias.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Thursday that Harvard is prohibited from enrolling foreign students for the upcoming academic year. The agency cited “ongoing threats to national security and student safety” as justification, claiming the university allowed what it called “anti-American and antisemitic agitators” to operate freely on campus.
International Students Ordered to Leave
This decision impacts nearly 6,800 international students currently studying at Harvard, who now face the choice to transfer to other institutions or leave the United States. Most of these students are pursuing graduate degrees and represent over 100 countries.
In a public statement, DHS declared:
“Harvard is no longer authorized to host foreign nationals under F-1 student visas. All enrolled international students must either transfer to compliant universities or face legal removal.”
Accusations of Foreign Influence and Activism
Federal officials have also accused Harvard of fostering ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), referencing a controversial report that claimed members of a Chinese paramilitary group were trained on campus in 2024. No detailed evidence was provided publicly to support this claim.
Furthermore, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Ivy League institution failed to comply with a recent federal request for detailed data on foreign students involved in campus protests. Noem indicated that unless Harvard submits full student records—including video surveillance footage—within 72 hours, the ban will remain.
Harvard Denounces Retaliation
Harvard responded forcefully, calling the move an “unprecedented abuse of power” and a direct attack on higher education in America.
“This retaliatory action threatens the integrity of our academic mission and puts international scholars in jeopardy,” the university said in a written statement. “We are exploring all legal avenues to challenge this order.”
The university also confirmed that it had lost over $2.6 billion in federal research funding this year due to mounting political pressure from Washington.
Free Speech Advocates and Students React
Student groups and civil liberties organizations quickly condemned the administration’s move. Harvard College Democrats issued a strong rebuke, accusing the White House of silencing dissent:
“Trump’s campaign against international students is authoritarian in nature. Harvard must stand firm against this overreach.”
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) also criticized the federal demands as unconstitutional, likening them to mass surveillance:
“This broad attempt to obtain personal and expressive information is a grave threat to student rights and academic freedom.”
What Comes Next?
As Harvard prepares for potential legal action, the future of its international student community remains uncertain. Legal experts predict a court battle over the university’s visa authority, while political analysts view the crackdown as part of Trump’s broader campaign to reshape elite academic institutions perceived as bastions of liberal ideology.