WASHINGTON, USA — The Trump administration has stripped Harvard University of its certification to enrol international students, citing concerns over campus unrest, alleged coordination with the Chinese Communist Party, and the school’s refusal to align with federal directives.
Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, announced the decision Thursday, May 22, 2025, in a statement released on X, formerly Twitter.
“This decertification also means that existing aliens on F- or J- non-immigrant status must transfer to another university in order to maintain their non-immigrant status,” the statement said.
The move marks a dramatic escalation in the long-standing feud between the Trump administration and Harvard, a conflict that has intensified in recent months over issues ranging from academic freedom to funding compliance.
Noem said the action was prompted by the university’s failure to address “violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.”
Harvard University responded swiftly, calling the revocation “unlawful” and “retaliatory,” warning of its broader implications.
In a statement, the university said, “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.”
“This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” the statement continued.
The university added that it was working urgently to provide guidance to affected students.
The administration’s move follows a series of federal measures targeting the Ivy League institution.
Last month, the Trump White House froze $2.2 billion in federal research grants to Harvard.
Earlier this month, the Department of Education also warned the university that it risked losing all future grant eligibility.
At the centre of the conflict are a set of demands issued by President Donald J. Trump.
These included calls for Harvard to audit its faculty for plagiarism, report international students accused of misconduct regardless of severity, and dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes — all of which the university refused.
Trump’s push reflects a broader campaign by his administration to reshape American higher education by exerting federal pressure on what it sees as ideological noncompliance by elite institutions.
The implications are significant. For the 2024–2025 academic year, international students made up 27.2 percent of Harvard’s enrolment.
Without federal certification, the university can no longer issue the documents needed for non-immigrant students to secure visas.
“Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country,” Noem said following the announcement.
The administration has yet to specify whether similar actions are being considered against other institutions.
Meanwhile, legal experts anticipate a possible court challenge by Harvard, potentially setting the stage for a constitutional clash over academic freedom, immigration policy, and executive authority.
