The United States (US) government has revoked Harvard University’s certification to enrol foreign students, citing the institution’s refusal to comply with a records request from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The decision, which takes immediate effect, marks a sharp escalation in tensions between Harvard and federal authorities.
The revocation of the university’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification means Harvard is no longer permitted to admit international students, and current foreign students must either transfer to another institution or face the loss of their legal status.
According to NAFSA, international students, which included those from Nigeria, contributed an estimated $43.8 billion to the US economy during the 2023/24 academic year, supporting nearly 380,000 jobs nationwide.
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The DHS confirmed the move in a press statement stating, “This means Harvard can no longer enrol foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status.”
Kristi Noem, homeland security secretary defended the decision, accusing the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.”
She stated, “It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enrol foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law.”
In a formal letter addressed to Harvard, Noem reiterated the consequences of the decision. “The revocation of your Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification means that Harvard is prohibited from having any aliens on F- or J- nonimmigrant status for the 2025-2026 academic school year”.
“This decertification also means that existing aliens on F- or J- nonimmigrant status must transfer to another university in order to maintain their nonimmigrant status.”
Read also: Everything you need to know about being an F-1 visa student in the U.S.
The Secretary underscored the administration’s stance, warning that universities failing to comply with federal law would face similar repercussions.
“Consequences must follow to send a clear signal to Harvard and all universities that want to enjoy the privilege of enrolling foreign students, that the Trump Administration will enforce the law and root out the evils of anti-Americanism and antisemitism in society and campuses,” she wrote.
“If Harvard would like the opportunity of regaining Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification before the upcoming academic school year, you must provide all of the information requested…within 72 hours.”
Harvard, which currently hosts around 6,800 international students accounting for 27 percent of its total enrolment has yet to publicly respond to the DHS action. The impact on foreign students and academic institutions across the country remains to be seen.
