In a move that has sent shockwaves through the academic world, President Donald Trump revoked Harvard University’s right too accept international students on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The decision forces current foreign students to transfer to other institutions or risk losing their legal status in the United States. Other universities are also facing the threat of similar actions.

Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Domestic Security, directed her department to cease certification of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program for Harvard University, effective for the 2025-2026 academic year.The department released a statement outlining the reasons behind this drastic measure.

Ms. Noem accused Harvard of encouraging violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party. Harvard, in response, characterized the Trump administration’s actions as illegal and retaliatory, emphasizing the impact on thousands of students.

the Reasons Behind the Revocation

This decision marks a notable escalation in the Trump administration’s campaign against the prestigious Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts.According to the Department of Domestic Security, the action was prompted by Harvard’s refusal to provide information requested by Ms. Noem regarding several foreign student visa holders.

Harvard’s international student population is ample. Harvard received nearly 6,800 international students in the 2024-2025 school year, according to Reuters. This figure represents approximately 27% of the total new student body.

In 2022, Chinese citizens constituted the largest group of foreign students at Harvard, totaling 1,016 individuals. Following China, the largest contingents came from Canada, India, South Korea, britain, Germany, Australia, Singapore, and Japan.

The Chinese embassy in Washington has not yet issued a statement regarding this matter.

Ms. Noem stated, It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to accept foreign students and benefit from higher tuition fees to help increase their eternal funds that are worth billions of dollars.

Demand for Foreign Student Records

In a letter addressed to Harvard University, Ms.Noem offered an prospect for the university to regain certification. This would require submitting records of foreign students within 72 hours,including video or audio recordings of their protest activities over the past five years.

Harvard has firmly asserted that the U.S. government’s actions are unlawful and reaffirmed its commitment to educating foreign students.

This retaliation action threatens serious losses for the Harvard community and our country, as well as damaging Harvard’s academic mission and research.

Harvard University Statement

Democratic members of Congress have voiced strong condemnation of the revocation. Representative Jaime Raskin described it as an attack that could not be tolerated on Harvard’s independence and academic freedom. He further characterized it as retaliation by the U.S.government for Harvard’s previous rejections of President Trump.

Recently, President Trump froze approximately $3 billion in federal grants allocated to Harvard. This action followed Harvard University’s demand for the return of these funds.

In a separate legal matter concerning President Trump’s efforts to terminate the legal status of hundreds of foreign students across the U.S., a federal judge ruled that the U.S.government could not end their status without adhering to proper regulatory procedures. The impact of this ruling on Harvard’s situation remains unclear.

During an interview on Fox News’ “The Story with martha Maccallum,” Ms. Noem was asked whether similar actions were being considered for other universities,including Columbia University in New York.

Of course, we consider it, Ms. Noem responded.

This should be a warning for every other university to organize themselves, she added.