New York: The Harvard University can’t enroll international students for the 2025–2026 academic year, following the revocation of its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In a letter dated May 22, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ordered this. Now, Harvard can no longer admit foreign students under F-1 or J-1 visas. Moreover, current international students must transfer to another institution in order to maintain their visa status.
“All universities must comply with Department of Homeland Security requirements, including reporting requirements under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program regulations, to maintain this privilege,” Noem wrote.
The order stated that as a result of the university’s refusal to comply with multiple requests to provide the Department of Homeland Security pertinent information while perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist “diversity, equity, and inclusion” policies, it has lost the privilege of enrolling foreign students.
However, Secretary Noem mentioned that the university may regain its SEVP certification in time for the upcoming academic year—if it meets a set of six conditions. The university has been asked to submit the following information within 72 hours:
- All records, including electronic and audiovisual files, related to “illegal activity” on or off campus involving non-immigrant students enrolled at Harvard over the past five years.
- All records regarding “dangerous or violent activity” by non-immigrant students, on or off campus, within the last five years.
- All records pertaining to “threats made by non-immigrant students” toward other students or university personnel.
- Any documentation of incidents in which non-immigrant students may have deprived others of their rights, whether on or off campus.
- All disciplinary records of non-immigrant students enrolled at Harvard in the last five years.
- Any audio or video footage of protest activity involving non-immigrant students on the university’campus in the past five years.
The order cautioned that providing materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent information may subject to criminal prosecution, besides civil sanctions.
