Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said existing international students at Harvard must transfer or risk losing their legal status.
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WASHINGTON – The Trump administration on Thursday revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, throwing the Ivy League campus into chaos and jeopardizing the legal status of more than a quarter of its students.
The move marks a significant escalation in the White House’s battle to pressure the university to bend to demands to overhaul its admissions, hiring and teaching practices. The decision will almost certainly prompt a legal challenge from the university, which is already in active litigation against the federal government for freezing billions of dollars in research funding.
In a statement, Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security secretary, said that current international students at Harvard must transfer to other universities or risk losing their legal status.
Noem said she would reconsider her decision if Harvard – within 72 hours – satisfied her demands for more information, which include providing disciplinary records of every international student for the past five years.
International students at Harvard told USA TODAY they are still trying to figure out their next steps.
At President Donald Trump’s direction, federal agencies have targeted dozens of universities across the country in recent months that officials have accused of not doing enough to protect Jewish students. The government has canceled billions of dollars in research grants and contracts, forcing significant layoffs and budget cuts at many institutions.
“It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments,” Noem said. “Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused.”
In a statement, Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton said the university was working quickly on Thursday to provide guidance and support to students and faculty.
“The government’s action is unlawful. We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University – and this nation – immeasurably,” he said. “This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”
Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.