Harvard's student visa program terminated

(By our staff reporter) The Trump administration on Thursday blocked the ability of Harvard University to enroll future international students and to retain its existing enrolled foreign students. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is eliminating the student visa program at Harvard University due to "pro-terrorist conduct" at campus protests, as reported by multiple media outlets and confirmed by Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in a statement posted on the social media site X. Harvard may no longer enroll foreign students in the 2025-2026 school year, and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status to reside in the U.S. before the next academic year begins. It's a severe consequence for what DHS claims is Harvard's refusal to comply with its requests for behavioral records of student visa holders. "This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus," said Secretary Kristi Noem. "It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country." DHS said that in addition to barring enrollment of future international students, “existing foreign students must transfer to lose their legal status.” The administration in April froze $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard, hours after the university roundly rejected demands that it eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and evaluate international students for ideological concerns. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered DHS staff to revoke Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, which allows colleges to enroll foreign students. DHS said that in addition to barring enrollment of future international students, “existing foreign students must transfer to lose their legal status.” The revocation, which DHS said was the result of “pro-terrorist conduct,” was first reported by The New York Times. As of the fall 2023 semester, International students comprised more than 27% of Harvard’s total enrollment, according to university data. Noem in April had threatened to revoke Harvard’s ability to enroll international students. She warned the university at that time that its certification to enroll foreign students was contingent upon complying with federal immigration laws. The administration in April froze $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard, hours after the university roundly rejected demands that it eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and evaluate international students for ideological concerns.