Saturday, March 29, 2025
In a sweeping move that has triggered backlash from academic and international communities, the Trump administration has suspended Harvard University’s ability to admit international students, citing concerns over campus violence, anti-Semitic sentiments, and alleged coordination with the Chinese Communist Party.
The decision, announced on Thursday, stems from an ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) investigation. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem sent a formal letter to Harvard stating the administration’s intent, alleging that the university has “fostered violence and anti-Semitism” and “collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party.” She further declared on social media that admitting international students is a “privilege, not a right.”
This development follows President Donald Trump’s April remarks, where he called Harvard “a joke” and suggested the prestigious university should lose its federal research contracts. Trump accused Harvard of refusing to comply with unspecified political oversight demands.
“Harvard is no longer even considered a great place to learn,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “It should be removed from any list of the world’s top universities.”
The administration claims that international students’ high tuition fees “help fund Harvard’s billion-dollar endowment,” and thus, the university’s global outreach must be scrutinized.
In a DHS letter, Harvard was given 72 hours to submit “required information” if it wishes to restore certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program before the next academic year. Without it, new international students could be blocked from enrolling, and current students may be forced to transfer or lose legal status.
Harvard sharply condemned the move, calling it retaliatory and unlawful.
“This action poses a serious threat to our global academic mission,” Harvard said in an official statement. “We remain fully committed to hosting international students and scholars from over 140 countries, who greatly enrich both Harvard and the nation.”
According to university data, Harvard enrolled approximately 6,800 international students in the 2024–2025 academic year, making up 27% of its student body. Of these, 788 are from India alone.
The suspension may jeopardize U.S. standing as a premier academic destination, and critics argue it reflects a broader trend of politicizing higher education under Trump’s leadership.
