Trump Gives Harvard 30 Days to Contest Threat of Ban on International Student Admissions

In a significant development in the escalating standoff between the Trump administration and Harvard University, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has given Harvard 30 days to respond to its intent to revoke the school’s certification to admit non-U.S. students. The notice, issued on Wednesday, followed mounting legal pressure and a court hearing scheduled before U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston.

The Justice Department submitted the notice of intent in court documents, pausing the immediate enforcement of a decision that could have impacted nearly 6,800 international students—about 27% of Harvard’s student body.

The DHS had previously moved to revoke Harvard’s certification under the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), citing concerns including alleged antisemitism, lack of cooperation in investigations, and ideological bias—claims Harvard strongly denies.

Harvard argued in court that the move violated its First Amendment rights and due process under the U.S. Constitution. The university accused the administration of a “retaliatory attack on academic freedom,” asserting that it was being targeted for refusing to alter its governance, curriculum, and faculty independence.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in a pointed statement, said Harvard had demonstrated a “repeated pattern of endangering students and spreading American hate.” She claimed the institution had failed to comply with DHS requests for data on student visa holders’ conduct and affiliations.

On May 22, Noem accused Harvard of links to the Chinese Communist Party and “fostering violence,” though no supporting evidence was made public.

The case is being heard by Judge Burroughs, an Obama-era appointee, as Harvard simultaneously pursues another lawsuit challenging the federal government’s cancellation of nearly $3 billion in research funding.

President Trump weighed in from the Oval Office, proposing a cap of 15% on foreign student admissions at Harvard, escalating tensions further. Critics and academics have decried the administration’s actions as politically motivated and harmful to higher education’s global standing.

Harvard, the oldest and wealthiest university in the United States, is widely regarded for its international academic reach. Losing its SEVP certification would prevent the admission of new international students and force existing ones to transfer or lose visa status.

The university’s legal team emphasized that the administration’s action would cause “devastating harm,” disrupting the lives of thousands of students and damaging Harvard’s global reputation.