Demonstrators protest against Israel at Harvard University, April 25, 2025. (AFP)
In a dramatic escalation of the US president's fight against Harvard, the Trump administration has revoked the prestigious university's ability to enroll foreign nationals, in what is widely perceived as part of the administration’s crackdown on free speech.
The school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Thursday condemned the move as "unlawful" and said it would hurt both the university and the country. One student said the community was "panicking."
Trump is angry at Harvard for rejecting his demand that it submit to oversight on admissions and hiring over his claims that it is supporting Palestine and anti-Semitism.
The loss of more than a quarter of the student body could prove to be a huge financial blow to Harvard.
"Effective immediately, Harvard University's Student and Exchange Visitor (SEVIS) Program certification is revoked," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in a letter to the Ivy League institution.
Harvard called the latest move "unlawful."
"We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host our international students and scholars," it said in a statement.
The university said that it was working to offer students guidance and support.
"This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission."
Leaders of the Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors called the move "the latest in a string of nakedly authoritarian and retaliatory moves against America's oldest institution of higher education."
"The Trump administration is unlawfully seeking to destroy higher education in the United States. It now demands that we sacrifice our international students in the process. Universities cannot acquiesce to such extortion," it said.
Last month, Trump threatened to stop Harvard from enrolling foreign students if it did not agree to government demands.
Academic institutions in the United States and Europe have witnessed widespread protests against Israel’s genocidal war on the people of Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, devastating the besieged Palestinian territory.
In response, the Trump administration has moved forward with its threat to expel non-citizen student activists involved in pro-Palestine demonstrations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently confirmed that the US has canceled at least 300 foreign students’ visas.
Trump administration officials have claimed these students oppose US “foreign policy and national security interests” due to their opposition to Israel’s prolonged, genocidal campaign against Palestinians in Gaza.
Harvard University rejected these demands, including reporting foreign students for code violations and removing diversity, equity and inclusion measures.
The Trump administration announced it had frozen $2.3 billion in federal funding to the school.
University President Alan Garber wrote in a letter addressed to the school's community that while some of the Trump administration's demands "are aimed at combating anti-Semitism, the majority represent direct governmental regulation of the 'intellectual conditions' at Harvard."
That includes a demand to "audit" the views of the student body, faculty, and staff and "reduce the power" of certain individuals because of their ideological views.
