By Steve Neavling
The Trump administration on Thursday revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, accusing the school of “fostering violence” and refusing to comply with demands for information on foreign student protests, Reuters reports.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification will be terminated for the 2025–2026 academic year unless the university turns over records on international students within 72 hours, including video and audio of campus protests.
Harvard called the move “unlawful” and “retaliatory,” warning it would harm thousands of students and undermine the university’s academic mission. The school enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in the 2024–2025 year, roughly 27% of its student body.
The decision marks an escalation of Trump’s attacks on higher education. Harvard is already suing the administration to restore $3 billion in frozen federal grants. Noem suggested more schools could face similar action, saying, “This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together.”
Immigration advocates said the policy punishes students for political reasons.
“None of them have done anything wrong,” said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council. “They’re just collateral damage to Trump.”
