Has the Trump Administration Banned Harvard from Accepting International Students?

San Francisco, May 23 (NationPress) The administration led by Donald Trump has officially annulled Harvard University's certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), thereby preventing the institution from enrolling any new international students.

The announcement came from Kristi Noem, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as reported by the Xinhua news agency.

In her statement, Noem declared, "This should act as a warning to all universities and educational institutions nationwide."

"The ability to enroll international students is a privilege, not a right, and that privilege has been withdrawn due to Harvard's ongoing non-compliance with federal regulations," she emphasized.

On the social media platform X, Noem detailed, "In April, the administration withheld $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard after the university dismissed calls to abolish diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, as well as assess international students based on ideological perspectives. As per Harvard's records, international students constituted over 27 percent of its student population in the fall 2023 semester. This administration is holding Harvard accountable for promoting violence, antisemitism, and collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party. It is a privilege, not an entitlement, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their elevated tuition fees that contribute to their multimillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had ample chances to act properly but chose not to comply. Consequently, they have lost their SEVP certification due to their disregard for the law. Let this be a cautionary tale for all academic institutions across the nation."

However, the letter addressed to Harvard University indicated that if the institution wishes to regain its SEVP certification before the upcoming academic year, it must submit the "required information" within a window of "72 hours."

The DHS warned that in addition to prohibiting the enrollment of new international students, "existing foreign students must transfer to maintain their legal status."

This action by the Trump administration will compel current students to seek transfers to other educational institutions or risk losing their legal status, as stated by the DHS on Thursday.

Harvard University has responded, claiming that the decision is a retaliatory measure that poses significant risks to the university.

"The government's actions are unlawful. We are wholeheartedly dedicated to preserving Harvard's ability to host international students and scholars from over 140 nations, who greatly enrich both the University and our country," the university remarked in a press release.

"We are rapidly working to offer guidance and support to our community members. This retaliatory action jeopardizes the welfare of the Harvard community and the nation, undermining our academic and research missions."

In April, U.S. President Donald Trump labeled Harvard a "joke" and suggested that it should forfeit its government research contracts after the prestigious institution declined demands for external political oversight.

"Harvard can no longer be deemed a respectable learning environment and should not be included in any lists of the World's Great Universities or Colleges," Trump expressed on his Truth Social platform.

He had previously threatened to prevent the renowned educational institution from enrolling foreign students unless it complied with the imposed requirements as early as April.

Annually, between 500 to 800 students and scholars from India attend Harvard, as per the university's official website.

At present, there are 788 students from India enrolled at Harvard University.