Trump administration blocks Harvard from enrolling foreign students

The Trump administration has taken a dramatic step against Harvard University by revoking its certification to enroll international students, citing legal noncompliance.

In a post on X, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision: “The administration has revoked Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law.”

Secretary Noem’s Letter to Harvard: https://t.co/8wmdrpWxCR pic.twitter.com/BbGEctUIXo

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 22, 2025

She added a stark warning to other academic institutions: “Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.”

The decision threatens the status of thousands of international students currently enrolled at Harvard. According to university data, nearly 7,000 international students attended the school in the last academic year, accounting for more than a quarter (27.2 percent) of its student population.

Harvard responded by condemning the move as “unlawful” in a brief statement.

The administration has not publicly detailed the specific legal violations Harvard is accused of, and the university has not yet responded to requests for additional clarification.