Harvard Banned From Enrolling Foreign Students

Topline

The Trump administration removed Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign students, marking an escalation in the school’s feud with the administration amid its refusal to agree to demands from the government.

The Trump administration reportedly revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international … More students amid the school’s ongoing feud with the government.

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Key Facts

“Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a letter sent to the school and obtained by The New York Times, which first reported the escalation.

The revocation of the certification is effective immediately, meaning “Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status,” according to a Department of Homeland Security press release.

The Trump administration threatened to remove Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students last month after Harvard refused to comply with a request from the government for information “about the criminality and misconduct of foreign students on its campus.”

Forbes has reached out to Harvard for comment and confirmation.

Crucial Quote

“Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused,” Noem said in the release. “Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.”

Chief Critic

Jason Newton, Harvard’s director of media relations and communications, told Forbes in a statement the government’s action was “unlawful” and said the school is “fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host our international students and scholars.” Newton said the “retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”

Key Background

Harvard has been at odds with the federal government under President Donald Trump for weeks after it refused to comply with a list of demands in early April. The university is one of about 60 being investigated by the administration for antisemitism allegations, and the Trump administration accused it on April 11 of failing “to live up to both the intellectual and civil rights conditions that justify federal investment.” The demands from the government included Harvard making “meaningful governance” reforms and allowing the school to be monitored by Trump administration officials. In response to the demand letter, attorneys for Harvard said the university could not “allow itself to be taken over by the federal government” and would not “accept the government’s terms as an agreement in principle.” The administration then froze billions of dollars of federal grants, and Harvard sued the government, alleging the funding freeze was “unlawful and beyond the government’s authority.”

Big Number

$2.2 billion. That’s how much in federal grants the Trump administration froze last month after Harvard said it would not comply with the administration’s demands.