The US government, on Thursday, revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, marking a significant escalation in its ongoing standoff with the Ivy League school. The decision, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday, directly impacts nearly 6,800 foreign students and intensifies scrutiny over the university’s campus policies.Harvard’s official website states that between 500 to 800 Indian students and scholars are enrolled at the university each year. At present, the number stands at 788.What happens to students already on campus?International students currently enrolled at Harvard must transfer to another SEVP-certified university or risk losing their legal status in the US. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a letter that the university failed to comply with federal demands for records related to international students. Noem stated the university was “perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies and employs racist ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ policies.”I'm already a Harvard student. Will I be able to graduate?This revocation will take effect from the 2025–26 academic year. While students graduating this semester will be allowed to do so, others must now seek transfer options unless the decision is reversed or halted by a court. Noem added that Harvard can regain its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification if it submits, within 72 hours, disciplinary records, protest-related footage, and documents detailing any unlawful activity by students over the past five years.Can the government control Harvard's enrolments?Harvard called the action unlawful and disruptive to its academic mission. “We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community,” a university spokesperson said.The US government controls who can enter the country. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) manages the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows colleges to issue documents needed for foreign students to get visas to study in the US. Recently, DHS announced it would remove Harvard from this program, meaning Harvard can no longer provide these documents to international students. This action directly affects Harvard’s ability to enroll students from abroad.The DHS regulates the SEVP, which permits colleges to issue visa documents for international students. Without SEVP status, Harvard cannot support student visa applications. Typically, institutions are removed from SEVP for administrative reasons such as loss of accreditation or closure. This case, however, appears to be the first based on ideological and campus climate concerns. Why is Trump targetting Harvard?This development follows Harvard’s decision in April to reject federal directives aimed at curbing pro-Palestinian protests and dismantling DEI initiatives. Since then, multiple US agencies, including DHS and the National Institutes of Health, have frozen over $2.6 billion in research funding. In response, Harvard has taken legal action to challenge the funding blocks and defend its governance policies.President Donald Trump has also called for revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status — a move that could significantly disrupt the university’s ability to attract philanthropic donations.The US administration has hinted that similar measures could be applied to other universities. “This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together,” Noem said during an interview with Fox News.Beyond Harvard, the ban has broader implications for the Massachusetts economy. International students not only pay higher tuition but also contribute to local businesses and often remain in the state’s healthcare and research sectors post-graduation.While Harvard prepares for a prolonged legal battle, thousands of international students face immediate uncertainty. The case signals a new phase in how US immigration policies intersect with campus governance and academic freedom.
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