Harvard’s International Student Enrollment Hit by Trump Administration’s Revocation: Key Details

On Thursday, the Trump Administration revoked Harvard University’s authorization to enroll international students, stating that thousands of current students must either transfer to other institutions or leave the United States.

This action signifies a significant escalation by the Trump Administration, potentially affecting a substantial portion of the university’s student population and a vital source of its financial resources.

Approximately 27% of Harvard’s students, which amounts to about 6,800 individuals, are from countries outside the U.S., a figure that has been consistently increasing over the past decade. Many of these students contribute significantly to the university’s nearly $6 billion annual budget by paying full tuition.

The decision has shocked students, faculty, and higher education administrators nationwide. A Harvard spokesperson told TIME that the university considers the Trump Administration’s move “unlawful” and that the University is “fully committed” to its international students.

Harvard spokesperson Jason A. Newton stated, “We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University—and this nation—immeasurably. We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”

Here’s what you need to know about the Trump Administration’s action.

What does the revocation mean?

The Department of Homeland Security’s decision to revoke Harvard’s certification, communicated in a letter to the university and subsequently made public by Secretary Kristi Noem, immediately removes Harvard’s authorization under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This revocation prevents the university from admitting any new international students, and current foreign students will have to transfer to another institution or risk losing their legal status in the U.S.

“I am writing to inform you that effective immediately, Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked,” Noem stated in the letter.

Why did the Administration revoke the certification?

In her letter, Noem attributed the Trump Administration’s decision to Harvard’s alleged non-compliance with record requests, its implementation of diversity and inclusion policies, and its handling of pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

The Trump Administration has asserted that Harvard refused to provide documents that Homeland Security claims are related to possible “misconduct and other offenses” committed by foreign students. Noem also accused the university—without presenting evidence—of creating “an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ policies,” along with supposed collaboration with the Chinese Communist Party.

“Consequences must follow to send a clear signal to Harvard and all universities that want to enjoy the privilege of enrolling foreign students, that the Trump administration will enforce the law and root out the evils of anti-Americanism and antisemitism in society and campuses,” Noem wrote.

This decision from the Trump Administration is the latest in a series of federal penalties against Harvard, including billions in lost funding and recent threats to take away the university’s tax-exempt status. Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it would be terminating $60 million in grants to the university.

A White House spokesperson told TIME on Thursday that “Harvard has turned their once-great institution into a hot-bed of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators.”

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said, “They have repeatedly failed to take action to address the widespread problems negatively impacting American students and now they must face the consequences of their actions. Enrolling foreign students is a privilege, not a right.”

The conflict between the Trump Administration and Harvard occurs as President Donald Trump has been increasingly attempting to exert control over elite universities, often portraying his actions as part of a larger effort to eliminate what he sees as ideological bias and campus extremism. However, critics argue that the Trump Administration is punishing academic institutions for political motives and restricting the freedom of intellectual exchange.

The Trump Administration has also taken steps to revoke the legal status of international students across the country, including those at Harvard. A federal judge intervened on Thursday, blocking the government from arresting, incarcerating, or relocating students based on their legal status until another related case is resolved.

What happens next?

The Department of Homeland Security has given Harvard 72 hours to submit the requested records to regain its certification. Even if the university complies, the timeline for reinstatement is uncertain, and many students are now urgently assessing whether they need to leave the country.

This move is likely to lead to a legal challenge. Harvard previously filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration last month regarding federal attempts to dictate changes to its admissions and hiring procedures.

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