Legal ForumExample Category: LSK Kajiado ForumU.S. Government Revokes Harvard’s …Post Reply

Post Reply: U.S. Government Revokes Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students in Major Escalation - CNN, RT, NY Times

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on May 22, 2025, 7:58 pm</div><div id="pl-5967"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-5967-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-5967-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-5967-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
			class="so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base"
			
		>
<div class="siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget">
	<p dir="auto">In a significant escalation of tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard University, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revoked Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively barring the Ivy League institution from enrolling international students. The move threatens the academic futures of approximately 6,800 international students—more than 27% of Harvard’s student body—and marks a dramatic intensification of the administration’s campaign against the university.</p>
<p dir="auto">The decision, outlined in a letter from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to Harvard President Alan M. Garber, cites the university’s alleged failure to comply with federal reporting requirements and accusations of fostering an “unsafe campus environment” that is “hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ policies.” Noem’s letter stated, “Effective immediately, Harvard University’s SEVIS certification is revoked,” meaning the university can no longer enroll foreign students, and current international students must either transfer to another institution, seek changes to their immigration status, or leave the United States.</p>
<p dir="auto">The revocation follows months of escalating pressure from the Trump administration, which has accused Harvard of allowing antisemitism and “anti-American” ideologies to flourish on campus, particularly in relation to pro-Palestinian protests that began after the October 7th 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. In April 2025, Noem demanded that Harvard provide “detailed records on foreign student visa holders’ illegal and violent activities” by April 30, threatening SEVP revocation if the university failed to comply. Harvard submitted records, but DHS deemed them “insufficient,” alleging the university ignored a follow-up request for additional documents. The administration’s actions also follow Harvard’s refusal to meet a series of demands from Trump’s antisemitism task force, which included overhauls to admissions, hiring, and academic programming, as well as the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Harvard President Garber rejected these demands on 14th April, stating, “No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.” The administration responded by freezing $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts and canceling an additional $2.7 million in violence prevention grants, accusing Harvard of supporting “public health propaganda” and branding conservatives as “far-right dissidents.”</p>
<p dir="auto">International students, who comprise 27.2% of Harvard’s enrollment (6,793 students in the 2024-25 academic year), are now in limbo. Those currently enrolled face the daunting prospect of transferring to other SEVP-certified institutions, adjusting their immigration status, or leaving the country. The decision comes just days before Harvard’s graduation, adding urgency and emotional weight to the crisis. Leo Gerdén, a 22-year-old Swedish student studying economics and government, described the situation as “absolutely devastating,” noting the profound impact on students who viewed Harvard as a dream opportunity. Karl N. Molden, another international student, expressed widespread panic among peers, stating, “They now have to go through this stressful procedure again, find a university, and transfer their credits, and lose all their friends.”</p>
<p dir="auto">Financially, the loss of SEVP certification is a significant blow. International students, who often pay full tuition without access to federal financial aid, are a critical revenue stream for Harvard, which has a $53.2 billion endowment. Noem emphasized this in her statements, noting that Harvard “relies heavily on foreign student funding” to maintain its endowment. The administration has also threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status, a move that could cost the university millions annually by taxing endowment income and donor contributions. Harvard has called this threat “unprecedented” and argued it lacks legal basis, warning it could diminish financial aid and halt critical medical research.</p>
<p dir="auto">The revocation is part of a broader Trump administration campaign targeting elite universities, including Columbia, Princeton, Cornell, and Northwestern, for alleged failures to address antisemitism and for supporting DEI initiatives. The administration has revoked over 1,450 student visas nationwide, often citing participation in pro-Palestinian protests or minor legal infractions, though many revocations lack clear explanations. Human rights advocates and legal scholars have raised concerns about free speech and academic freedom, with some arguing the actions reflect xenophobia and overreach. Elora Mukherjee, director of Columbia Law School’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, stated, “U.S. immigration policy seems to be driven by xenophobia, white nationalism, and racism right now.”</p>
<p dir="auto">Harvard has vowed to fight the decision, with a spokesperson calling it “unlawful” and reaffirming the university’s commitment to its international students, who “enrich the University—and this nation—immeasurably.” The university is already engaged in litigation against the administration over the funding freeze and is likely to challenge the SEVP revocation in court. On April 17, 2025, students and faculty rallied on campus to protest the administration’s actions, with Archon Fung, a professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, addressing the crowd. Posts on X reflect polarized sentiment, with some users praising the administration for holding Harvard accountable and others decrying the move as authoritarian.</p>
<p dir="auto">The revocation throws Harvard into uncharted territory. The university must navigate legal challenges, support its international students, and address the financial and reputational fallout. For students like Gerdén and Molden, the immediate focus is on securing their academic futures amidst uncertainty. The administration has given Harvard 72 hours to provide additional disciplinary records to reconsider the decision, but compliance could further erode the university’s autonomy. As the situation develops, the clash between Harvard and the Trump administration underscores broader debates over academic freedom, immigration policy, and the role of federal oversight in higher education. The outcome could reshape the landscape for international students in the U.S. and set a precedent for government-university relations.</p>
<p dir="auto">
</p></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><br>

Cancel

Legal Forums

Post Reply: U.S. Government Revokes Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students in Major Escalation - CNN, RT, NY Times

Recent Posts

Crisis at Kenyatta National Hospital: Senators Demand Action on Overcrowding and Security Failures

Court Orders Equal Pay for UHC Nurses Amid Absorption Plan