Trump Administration Threatens Harvard’s International Student Program Amid Antisemitism Accusations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration has intensified its confrontation with Harvard University, threatening to revoke its ability to enroll international students due to allegations of antisemitism and discrimination on campus. In a letter dated April 17, 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned Harvard that maintaining its certification to accept foreign students is contingent upon compliance with federal immigration regulations.

Noem stated in her letter, “It is a privilege to have foreign students attend Harvard University, not a guarantee,” emphasizing the administration’s stance following claims that Harvard has fostered a hostile environment for Jewish students by failing to adequately address antisemitism.

The university’s certification, part of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), is essential for schools seeking to host international students. According to Noem, this privilege could be revoked if Harvard does not comply with a request for information regarding its student visa holders by April 30.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also announced the cancellation of two grants to Harvard, totaling $2.7 million, with Noem stating the institution is “unfit to be entrusted with taxpayer dollars.” These actions illustrate a broader pattern of the Trump administration imposing financial penalties on elite educational institutions over their responses to recent social issues.

The university relies heavily on international students, who made up over 27% of its total enrollment during the fall 2023 semester. Harvard’s financial stability is significantly supported by these students, as they contribute to the university’s substantial endowment.

In recent weeks, Harvard has faced mounting pressure from the administration. Already under scrutiny, the university agreed to a list of demands to negotiate over the potential cancellation of $400 million in federal funding. These demands included the abolition of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and reforms to its hiring and disciplinary policies.

Harvard’s President Alan Garber characterized the administration’s demands as an overreach of governmental authority, accusing the Trump administration of trying to rule over the “intellectual conditions” at the institution.

In response to Noem’s latest letter, a Harvard spokesperson reiterated the university’s commitment to its independence and constitutional rights. “We continue to stand by that statement. We will continue to comply with the law and expect the Administration to do the same,” the spokesperson said.

The Trump administration’s unprecedented targeting of higher education institutions is largely attributed to a rise in campus protests following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks by Hamas. Noem criticized Harvard, claiming that its leadership has failed to confront antisemitism, which she argues undermines national security.

“Harvard bending the knee to antisemitism — driven by its spineless leadership — fuels a cesspool of extremist riots and threatens our national security,” Noem stated in her press release. “With anti-American, pro-Hamas ideology poisoning its campus and classrooms, Harvard’s position as a top institution of higher learning is a distant memory. America demands more from universities entrusted with taxpayer dollars.”