Harvard University, known as one of the top academic institutions in the world, is now facing a major challenge to its global presence and reputation. In a shocking decision, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has taken away Harvard’s certification to host international students. This affects nearly 7,000 students from around the world and intensifies the ongoing political tension between the Trump administration and the Ivy League school.
The action, led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, removes Harvard’s access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This federal system is crucial for managing and tracking international students’ visa status. Without SEVIS, Harvard is legally unable to enroll international students or confirm their continued eligibility to study in the U.S.
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What Happened to Harvard and International Students
Normally, authorities remove universities from SEVIS because they lose accreditation or shut down — not due to political or ideological disputes. However, in this situation, the DHS is accusing Harvard of creating a “hostile” and “unsafe” environment for Jewish students, claiming the university promotes pro-Hamas and anti-American sentiments through its protest culture and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
In a letter sent on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanded that Harvard hand over a wide range of student records — including disciplinary reports and protest surveillance footage — as a condition for restoring its SEVIS access. The government has given Harvard just 72 hours to respond or risk permanently being cut off from the federal program, after the university previously declined to meet similar demands.
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Students who have finished their degrees this term can still graduate, but for most still enrolled, the government has given a harsh choice: transfer to another SEVP-certified school or lose their legal status in the U.S. Switching universities this late in the academic year, especially from a place like Harvard, is a huge hassle. Students have to quickly find schools that will accept them, get new I-20 visa documents, and update their info in SEVIS — a system Harvard can no longer access, making the whole process even more complicated.