President Donald Trump’s administration has terminated Harvard University’s student visa program.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shut down the program over “pro-terrorist conduct” on the prestigious school’s campus.
In a statement, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the move is a severe consequence of Harvard’s refusal to comply with the Trump administration’s request for the behavioral records of foreign students.
“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” Noem said.
“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.
“Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused.
“They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law.
“Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.”
Harvard may no longer enroll foreign students in the 2025-2026 school year.
Any existing foreign students must transfer to a different school or lose their legal status to reside in the U.S. before the next academic year begins.
In a letter to Maureen Martin, the university’s director of immigration services, Noem wrote:
“As a result of your brazen refusal to comply with multiple requests to provide the Department of Homeland Security pertinent information while perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas rhetoric, and employs racist ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ policies, you have lost this privilege.”
Noem offered Harvard 72 hours to provide the information requested for an opportunity to regain its visa program for the next school year.
The DHS chief called the move the “direct result of Harvard’s epic failure to comply with simple reporting requirements.”
The records requested include any footage of protest activity involving students on visas.
The disciplinary records of all students on visas in the last five years were also requested.
Noem said last month she had requested records related to visa-holding students enrolled in the university.
However, Harvard’s counsel did not provide adequate information to meet the demand.
After the DHS general counsel asked again for the information, Harvard provided an “insufficient, incomplete, and unacceptable response,” Noem said.
“Consequences must follow to send a clear signal to Harvard and all universities that want to enjoy the privilege of enrolling foreign students, that the Trump administration will enforce the law and root out the evils of antisemitism in society and on campuses.
Requested records also include footage or documentation of illegal, dangerous, or violent activity by student visa holders, any records of threats, or the deprivation of rights of other students or university personnel.
Last month, Harvard announced it would allow foreign students to accept admission to both Harvard and a foreign university as a backup.
It came amid the Trump administration’s threats to move to block Harvard’s authorization to host foreign students.
Typically, students must accept enrollment at Harvard by May 1 and can’t commit to another university.
At least a dozen Harvard students have had their authorization to study in the U.S. revoked over campus protest activity.
The Trump administration has already frozen close to $3 billion in federal taxpayer funding to the university.
The departments of Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services have all launched investigations into the college.
They claim that Harvard has failed to address campus anti-Semitism and eradicate far-left “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) in its policies.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress this week that the State Department had probably revoked “thousands” of student visas by this point.
He noted that many more would also be “proudly” revoked.
“We’re going to continue to revoke the visas of people who are here as guests and are disrupting our higher education facilities,” he said Tuesday.
“A visa is a privilege, not a right.”
The crackdown on university policies comes after a wave of pro-Hamas student protests and encampments swept schools across the nation.
The protests erupted in support of Hamas after the terrorist group launched the October 7 attacks against Israel.
Protesters sought to pressure university administrations to divest from Israel.
