4 hours ago
Last Updated:May 23, 2025, 00:08 IST
US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem informed Harvard that its Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification had been revoked with immediate effect
Harvard, the wealthiest university in the US with an endowment of $53.2 billion as of 2024, has become a key target of the Trump administration. (Reuters file photo)
The Trump administration has suspended Harvard University’s ability to enrol new international students, escalating its ongoing crackdown on elite US universities. As a result, the Ivy League institution’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has been revoked with immediate effect.
US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision on social media platform X, sharing a photo of the official decertification order.
“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus," Noem wrote.
This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments… pic.twitter.com/12hJWd1J86
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 22, 2025
“It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll 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," she added.
Noem also issued a warning to other institutions, writing, “Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country."
This move follows an earlier warning in April, when Noem had threatened to take similar action. At the time, she said Harvard’s certification depended on following US immigration laws.
The move is part of a broader federal crackdown on US universities, which the administration says is aimed at addressing antisemitism and reducing diversity programmes
The administration has also taken steps to revoke visas and deport international students involved in protests against the war in Gaza, accusing them of supporting the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Harvard, the wealthiest university in the US with an endowment of $53.2 billion as of 2024, has become a key target of the Trump administration. The Ivy League institution has refused to accept federal oversight of its admissions, hiring, and political stance—drawing sharp criticism from Trump.
In response, the administration froze $2.2 billion in federal funding to the university last month, with an additional $450 million in cuts announced on Tuesday.
(With inputs from agencies)
Location :United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world Trump Admin Blocks Harvard’s Foreign Admissions Over Antisemitism, China Allegations
