CNN reported that on May 22, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Harvard University "is no longer allowed to enroll international students", while international students currently "had to transfer schools or lose legal status".
This unprecedented move was issued by Secretary of Internal Security Kristi Noem, accusing Harvard of failing to cooperate in providing records of international student behavior - a request made last month.
In a letter to the school, Noem even criticized Harvard for maintaining an unsafe, hostile environment towards jewish students, promoting pro-Hamas ideology, and implementing a discriminatory, diverse, fair, and integrated (DEI) policy.
This is a warning for every university across the country, DHS stressed.
reacting quickly to the shocking decision, Harvard called the government's actions "meticulous" and affirmed its "commitment to protecting the ability to receive international students and scholars - those from more than 140 countries and making invaluable contributions to this university as well as to the United States".
We are urgently guiding and supporting our community. This sanctioning act poses a serious threat to Harvard and the country, said Jason Newton, a university spokesman.
According to data for the 2024-2025 school year, international students account for 27.2% of the total number of students at Harvard, equivalent to 6,793 people. Including scholars and lecturers, Harvard's international community is up to nearly 10,000 people.
Many Harvard lecturers are concerned that the loss of international students will deeply affect the research and academic capacity not only of the school but also of the entire US higher education system.
Professor of economics Jason furman, a former official in the Trump administration, called the US administration's decision "terroristic in every aspect".
Its impossible to imagine Harvard without these great international students. They are a great resource for innovation, for the academic community, and for the soft power of America, he said.
Another professor revealed to CNN that if the policy comes into effect, many laboratories at Harvard could have to close due to lack of human resources.
While Harvard and many scholars strongly condemned the decision, the White House did not show any signs of being shy. White House spokesman Abigail Jackson emphasized: Harvard has turned a once great university into a place to champion anti-Americanism, anti-Jewishism and pro-terrorism. They have continuously failed to address issues that are negatively affecting American students and now face the consequences.
Harvard is considered the center of the confrontation between the Trump administration and the American academic elite.
