- By Supratik Das
- Fri, 23 May 2025 10:36 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
In an unprecedented move, the Donald Trump administration has withdrawn Harvard University's approval to enroll international students under the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), risking the academic future of many. It may affect close to 6,800 foreign students, out of whom 788 are Indian. The decision, announced by US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday, has sent shockwaves through the global education community and raised serious concerns about academic freedom, immigration policy, and political overreach.
Why Has Harvard Lost SEVP Certification?
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Harvard did not obey repeated federal demands for data on its global student population. The requests involved disciplinary histories as well as audiovisual content of recent campus demonstrations, some reportedly pro-Hamas in nature. In a statement, Noem blamed the Ivy League university for “perpetuating an unsafe campus environment hostile to Jewish students” and called its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies “racist and discriminatory.” “This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” Noem wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
But Harvard can regain SEVP certification only if it conforms within 72 hours. The DHS has requested a sweeping range of records, including recordings of protests and internal disciplinary reports. Harvard so far has refused to provide the documents, citing academic freedom and privacy.
Harvard's Response: 'Unlawful and Retaliatory'
Harvard University responded sharply, describing the DHS action as "unlawful" and an explicit assault on academic freedom and research excellence. “This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” said university spokesperson Jason Newton. The university further stated that it is “working quickly to provide guidance and support to affected students” and has not discounted taking legal action.
“This is unprecedented. I've never seen it revoked for any reason besides the administrative issues listed in the statute,” Sarah Spreitzer, vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education, an association of universities, said this to the San Francisco Chronicle.
South Asian Student Group Condemned The Move
A prominent South Asian student group at Harvard has “strongly condemned” the Trump administration's decision to revoke the university's eligibility to enrol foreign students, terming it an “unwarranted and flagrant attack” and calling on varsity's administration to maintain steadfast support for its international student community.
“Amid this unwarranted and flagrant attack,” SAA expressed its “unwavering support for our international community. SAA called on Harvard's administration, faculty, and students to maintain “steadfast support for its international student body in these turbulent times. To all international students: you belong at Harvard, and we will stand for you.” “We stand with our South Asian peers and community members who have been adversely impacted,” the organisation said in a post on Instagram. It added that international students bring integral and immeasurable value to both SAA and the entire Harvard community. Founded in 1986, SAA is one of the largest and most active student groups on campus with hundreds of members. It was built as a communal space for South Asians of all backgrounds, “most importantly, immigrants, international students, and first-generation Americans. “Our members come from nations across the entire South Asian diaspora, and we strive to affirm their belonging and importance on campus," it said. “If this decision by the current federal administration is actualised, Harvard will lose some of its greatest minds and kindest souls, and SAA will irrevocably lose its community,” it added.
What Will Happen To 788 Indian Students?
Indian students, the majority of whom are pursuing multi-year graduate or doctoral programs, are now in limbo. Those graduates scheduled to graduate this semester will be permitted to do so. Others, however, will need to transfer to another SEVP-certified school or lose their visa status, which can mean deportation. Harvard's official records indicate that between 500 and 800 Indian students and scholars study here each year. As of today, 788 Indians are enrolled in Harvard.
Foreign students generate billions of tuition revenue and help drive innovative research. Earlier, American Council on Education President Ted Mitchell described the action in his statement as "illegal, small-minded, and politically motivated." The 6,800+ international students at Harvard, meanwhile, face uncertainty. Thousands are now frantically searching for options before their visa status expires. The Trump administration's action to withdraw Harvard University's SEVP certification has sparked a significant political and legal storm. With close to 800 Indian students in the list of affected ones, the move highlights the delicate nexus between immigration policy and higher education in the United States.