The US Department of Homeland Security has revoked Harvard University’s certification to enroll foreign students, citing noncompliance with federal oversight demands and allegations of antisemitism on campus.
The decision, announced Thursday by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, immediately suspends Harvard's participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS), a designation that previously allowed the Ivy League institution to sponsor visas for international students.
Secretary Noem accused Harvard of failing to cooperate with federal requests for documentation and of maintaining an environment that, according to her statement, fosters antisemitism, supports pro-Hamas sentiments, and institutionalizes divisive diversity policies. She also claimed that the university had shown “refusal to comply” with requests for oversight and had endangered Jewish students through a hostile campus atmosphere.
The department’s letter called the revocation a consequence of Harvard’s continued “unsafe campus environment” and refusal to submit records related to student protests and international student activity.
Noem demanded that Harvard deliver extensive data, including footage and documentation of foreign student involvement in any potentially unlawful campus activity, within 72 hours to regain its SEVIS certification.
President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized elite academic institutions, reportedly backed the measure, citing Harvard’s rejection of government demands for admissions and hiring transparency as well as concerns over alleged ideological bias.
Harvard strongly denied the accusations, calling the government's action “unlawful and retaliatory.” In an official statement, the university affirmed its commitment to supporting international students and preserving academic freedom. Harvard noted that nearly 6,800 of its students for the 2024–2025 academic year are international, representing over 25% of its total student body.
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