The Trump administration has struck a significant financial blow to Harvard University, a move that is poised to spark legal challenges.
According to a report by The New York Post, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced the termination of Harvard’s international student visa program, effectively threatening the presence of thousands of foreign students at the prestigious institution. Noem justified this decision as a means to hold Harvard accountable for allegedly fostering violence, antisemitism, and close ties with the Chinese Communist Party.
“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” Noem stated on X. “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,” she added, declaring that the university had lost its certification for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program due to noncompliance with federal regulations.
“Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.”
The New York Post highlights that a quarter of Harvard’s student body consists of international students, whose tuition—potentially reaching $87,000 annually including room and board—subsidizes domestic education and fuels university research efforts, as noted by The New York Times.
A representative from Harvard criticized Noem’s announcement, claiming it undermines the university’s academic and research mission. “We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University—and this nation—immeasurably,” the spokesperson asserted.
“We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” they added.
This latest action by the Trump administration follows a freeze on over $2.7 billion in multi-year research grants and $60 million in contracts for Harvard last month, a response to allegations of the university’s inadequate handling of violence against Jewish students on campus.
The Post also reported that back on April 16, Noem sent a letter to Maureen Martin, Harvard’s director of immigration services, demanding information regarding the criminal histories of international students under the SEVP.
