Trump admin nixes Harvard's ability to enroll international students
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The Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 5. Photo: Mel Musto/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Trump administration pulled Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday.
The big picture: Harvard has been at the center of the administration's war on universities over alleged antisemitism on campus and diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
Driving the news: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered DHS to terminate Harvard's student and exchange visitor program certification, the agency said.
- "This means Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status," per DHS.
- Noem said the administration is "holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus."
- She said in a statement that the university lost their program certification "as a result of the failure to adhere to the law," calling it "a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country."
What they're saying: Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton called the government's action unlawful.
- "We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University – and this nation – immeasurably," he said in an emailed statement.
- He said the university is working quickly to provide guidance to the campus community.
- "This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission," Newton said.
Context: The administration has for months been discussing plans to try to block certain colleges from having any foreign students if it decides too many are "pro-Hamas," Axios reported.
- The idea of prohibiting colleges from enrolling any student visa-holders grew out of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's "Catch and Revoke" program, which now is focusing on students who protested against the war in Gaza.
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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