The Department of Homeland Security has stripped Harvard University of its certification to enroll foreign students, citing the school’s refusal to hand over detailed records on international students’ disciplinary incidents and protest activities. More than 6,800 scholars now face the prospect of transferring or leaving the country if Harvard cannot swiftly regain its standing.
Under Secretary Kristi Noem’s directive, Harvard’s participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program was terminated, halting visa processing for new and returning international students. University leaders decried the move as unlawful and launched plans to challenge the decision in federal court.
The action underscores the administration’s tougher stance on compliance requirements for institutions hosting foreign nationals and sets a high-profile precedent for federal oversight of campus affairs. As Harvard mobilizes legal resources, its international community remains in limbo pending judicial review.