- विज्ञापन -
The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively preventing the institution from enrolling new international students. The decision was announced by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who stated that Harvard’s repeated non-compliance with federal laws led to this action and warned other universities that enrollment of international students is a privilege, not a right.
Noem claimed that Harvard had faced federal restrictions, including freezing $2.2 billion in grants, after rejecting government demands to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and to evaluate international students for ideological concerns. She accused Harvard of fostering violence, antisemitism, and collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party on campus. She emphasized that the privilege of enrolling foreign students and benefiting from their higher tuition fees has been revoked due to the university’s refusal to adhere to legal requirements.
Harvard responded by condemning the move as retaliatory and unlawful, stressing its commitment to hosting international students from over 140 countries. The university warned that this action threatens its community and research mission and is working to support its members.
The DHS’s letter indicated that Harvard must provide certain required information within 72 hours to potentially regain its certification before the upcoming academic year. The move also impacts current students—who must transfer to maintain legal status—though Harvard criticized this as harmful and retaliatory.
This action follows earlier statements by former President Donald Trump, who called Harvard a “joke” and threatened to withdraw government research funding after the university declined to accept external political oversight. Trump had also suggested banning Harvard from accepting foreign students unless it complied with such demands.
Harvard, which has approximately 788 students from India, is one of many institutions affected by the political tensions surrounding international education policies.
