Harvard Slams Trump’s Foreign Student Ban as ‘Unlawful’, Warns of Serious Harm to Campus and Country
Harvard University on Thursday condemned the Trump administration’s abrupt decision to revoke its ability to enroll international students, calling the move “unlawful” and warning of “serious harm” to the academic community and the broader interests of the United States.
The ban, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, stripped Harvard of its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification with immediate effect, citing the university’s alleged ties to antisemitism, “pro-Hamas sympathies,” and refusal to share foreign student records.
The action is part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration targeting elite academic institutions, which it accuses of fostering hostile environments and undermining national security.
In a strongly worded statement, Harvard stated:
“This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission. We are fully committed to supporting our international students and scholars.”
University officials confirmed they are preparing legal challenges and offering support to affected students, who currently number over 6,700 — roughly 27% of total enrollment.
The American Association of University Professors’ Harvard chapter called the move “nakedly authoritarian,” while former Obama advisor and economics professor Jason Furman said:
“It is impossible to imagine Harvard without our amazing international students. They are a huge benefit to everyone here.”
Secretary Noem, in a letter and follow-up post on social media, accused Harvard of
“perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students” and “coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.”
She asserted that foreign student enrollment is a “privilege, not a right,” and blamed the university for refusing to cooperate with federal requests regarding protests, campus activities, and DEI policies.
Harvard insists it complied with the law and described the government’s actions as a politically motivated attack
The sudden decision triggered panic among current students and faculty.
“No one knows what this means yet. Everyone’s just… panicking,” said Alice Goyer, a fourth-year U.S. student.
Karl Molden, an international student from Austria, said he had already applied to study in the U.K. amid fears of future crackdowns.
“The U.S. is becoming a less attractive spot for higher education,” he noted.
Legal experts predict a fierce court battle. While U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White temporarily blocked the administration from deporting individual international students earlier on Thursday, the ruling does not apply to Harvard’s institutional status.
Observers say Harvard’s lawsuit could determine the future of international education in the U.S.
This move follows a $2.2 billion freeze in federal funding to Harvard last month, and an additional $450 million cut earlier this week. Harvard’s resistance to federal oversight in admissions and hiring has made it a repeated target of the Trump administration.
With a $53.2 billion endowment and global reputation, Harvard has long been a magnet for international talent — a pipeline now facing disruption.
