On 23 May 2025, the Trump administration rescinded Harvard University’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively barring the university from enrolling international students for the 2025–2026 academic year. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also directed current international students at Harvard to transfer to other SEVP-certified institutions or risk losing their legal status. 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the decision was based on national security concerns, citing allegations related to campus unrest, antisemitism, and connections to the Chinese Communist Party. The department indicated that Harvard’s refusal to provide certain records regarding international students and protest activity contributed to the revocation. 

Harvard currently enrolls approximately 6,800 international students, representing about 27% of its student body. University officials have strongly opposed the federal action, calling it unlawful and describing it as inconsistent with established legal protections. The university filed a lawsuit contesting the decision and argued that the measure would have significant academic and operational consequences. 

On 23 May, U.S. District Court issued a temporary injunction blocking the Trump administration from enforcing the SEVP revocation. The order offers interim relief while the court considers the merits of the case. The court noted the potential for harm to the university and its international students in the absence of judicial intervention. Additional hearings have been scheduled. 

This development is one element of a broader federal initiative affecting higher education institutions. The administration has taken a critical stance toward several universities, alleging that some have adopted ideologies or policies viewed as incompatible with U.S. interests (see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe,  April 2025). In Harvard’s case, federal officials have also frozen USD 3 billion in grants and canceled USD 60 million in funding from the Department of Health and Human Services. Investigations into alleged civil rights violations are ongoing. 

In a related move, the State Department has directed U.S. embassies and consulates to halt new visa appointments for student and exchange visitors. An internal cable outlines plans for expanded vetting of visa applicants, including additional social media screening. Scheduled appointments will proceed under existing protocols, while unscheduled appointments are on hold pending further guidance. 

International student enrollment plays a role in both the academic and financial models of many U.S. universities. According to the Institute of International Education (IIE), more than one million foreign students were enrolled at American institutions in the 2023–2024 academic year, comprising 5.9% of the national student population.