The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has revoked Harvard University’s certification to host international students, requiring thousands of current students to either transfer to other institutions or leave the country, as per The AP.
The move, announced Thursday, halts Harvard’s participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which allows the university to sponsor international students for study in the United States. Nearly 6,800 foreign students, primarily graduate-level, currently attend Harvard, comprising more than a quarter of its student population.
Federal officials cited safety and compliance concerns, including allegations that the university failed to report certain protest activity involving international students. The administration has also raised concerns about alleged coordination between Harvard and Chinese government-linked groups, as well as campus tensions stemming from recent protests.
The decision follows an April request from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, asking Harvard to provide records related to foreign students potentially involved in violence or disruptive conduct. The department stated that Harvard failed to meet reporting requirements, resulting in the loss of its SEVP certification for the upcoming 2025–2026 academic year.
The university, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, said it is reviewing the action and working to support affected students. In a statement, Harvard described the move as harmful to its community and disruptive to its academic and research mission.
This development comes amid ongoing tensions between the federal government and the university over issues including campus speech, governance, and federal funding. Harvard has previously faced cuts to federal research grants and is currently subject to further scrutiny by several federal agencies.
The university has implemented governance reforms and issued policy updates in response to past concerns, including measures aimed at addressing incidents of antisemitism and bias on campus.
Harvard’s international students remain in legal limbo as the university explores possible legal and administrative responses. The Department of Homeland Security has indicated that the university could regain its SEVP certification by complying with its data requests within a 72-hour timeframe.
