On May 22 Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sent a notice to university president Alan M. Garber stating that “effective immediately … Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked.” This blocks the university’s ability to enroll international students in the future and has ordered existing international students at the university to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status. There are currently about 6,800 international students who attend Harvard (about 27% of total enrollment) and all are one week away from graduating or completing their school year. Noem posted a copy of the letter on X.
Noem has justified these measures stating that Harvard has failed to fully comply with an April 16 demand for complete disciplinary records for the last five years of foreign students including electronic records, video and audio recordings, documentation of any illegal activity, violence, threats to personnel or students, or protest activity on or off campus. While Harvard has turned over some documents, it has been engaged in a battle with the White House over the legality of the request.
The legal director of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Will Creeley, said of the decision: “This sweeping fishing expedition reaches protected expression and must be flatly rejected. The administration’s demand for a surveillance state at Harvard is anathema to American freedom.”
Miriam Feldblum, a leading education advocate, said, “Even if there were a credible case that the Department of Homeland Security wanted to advance, they have not complied with their own regulations and processes.” Feldblum insisted that there is a legitimate process to decertify a school and an appeals process, but none of this has occurred.
Charles Kuck, an immigration attorney said, “The decision to terminate is obviously retaliatory, poorly written, terribly reasoned and does not seem to follow the regulations.”
Over 1 million international students enroll in U.S. colleges every year which contributes nearly $44 billion to the national economy. They help U.S. students by exposing them to more worldly viewpoints and enriching them with new cultures. American universities have become dependent upon international students (especially the engineering and science departments) and they usually pay full tuition. From the Ivy League to community colleges international students are a critical part of higher education.May 23, 2025 (EIRNS)—On May 22 Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sent a notice to university president Alan M. Garber stating that “effective immediately … Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked.” This blocks the university’s ability to enroll international students in the future and has ordered existing international students at the university to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status. There are currently about 6,800 international students who attend Harvard (about 27% of total enrollment) and all are one week away from graduating or completing their school year. Noem posted a copy of the letter on X.
