By Ethan Caldwell 
Harvard University strongly condemns the Trump administration’s decision to revoke its ability to enroll international students, a move announced on Thursday that threatens the academic futures of nearly 6,800 current international students and blocks future admissions. This unprecedented action, led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, is a direct assault on the university’s mission to foster global scholarship and diversity.
The Department of Homeland Security has terminated Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, effective for the 2025-2026 academic year, citing the university’s alleged failure to address antisemitism and campus unrest. As a result, international students—who comprised 27% of Harvard’s enrollment in the 2024-2025 academic year—must now transfer to other institutions or face deportation, losing their legal status in the U.S. This decision not only disrupts the lives of thousands of students but also jeopardizes Harvard’s legacy as a cradle for global leaders, having educated figures like former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other influential world leaders.
Harvard President Alan M. Garber called the policy “unlawful and retaliatory,” emphasizing that the university remains fully committed to hosting scholars and students from over 140 countries. “This ban is a direct attack on academic freedom and the principles of open inquiry that define Harvard,” Garber stated. “We will fight this with every legal tool at our disposal to protect our students and our mission.”
The Trump administration’s move follows months of escalating tensions, including the freezing of over $2 billion in federal grants and demands for Harvard to overhaul its admissions, faculty hiring, and campus policies. Critics, including former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, have labeled the ban “vicious” and “unwise,” arguing it undermines U.S. economic and national security interests by stifling the talent pipeline that has historically driven innovation. Harvard has already filed a lawsuit in federal court in Boston, asserting that the revocation lacks legal grounding and violates regulations requiring specific non-compliance reasons, not ideological retribution.
The impact of this policy extends beyond Harvard, threatening the broader landscape of American higher education, which relies on international students for cultural exchange and significant revenue. Students like Marie Chantel Montas, a third-year Ph.D. candidate from the Dominican Republic, expressed devastation: “This decision upends our lives and futures for political reasons that have nothing to do with our education.”
Harvard is working urgently to provide guidance and support to affected students, ensuring those who completed degrees this semester can graduate. The university calls on the global academic community, alumni, and supporters to stand against this policy and advocate for the reinstatement of its SEVP certification.
Andreas Lundberg