HARVARD University has condemned President Donald Trump-led United States (US) Government’s abrupt move to strip it of the ability to enrol international students.
The university described the decision as a retaliatory act that threatens academic freedom and the futures of thousands of scholars.
In a statement Thursday, May 22, the institution described the revocation of its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification as ‘unlawful’ and ‘retaliatory.’
“This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” the statement read in part.
The US government through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), had on Thursday, revoked Harvard rights to enrol foreign students effective immediately.
The DHS Secretary, Kristi Noem, in a statement, accused Harvard of refusing to comply with requests for records involving nonimmigrant students, ranging from disciplinary records to protest-related footage spanning the past five years.
Noem alleged that Harvard had created an unsafe campus environment that was hostile to Jewish students, promoted pro-Hamas sympathies, and enforced racist diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
She stressed that as a result, the university had forfeited the privilege of enrolling international students.
“The revocation of your Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification means that Harvard is prohibited from having any aliens on F- or J – non-immigrant status for the 2025-2026 academic school year. This decertification also means that existing aliens on F- or J- nonimmigrant status must transfer to another university in order to maintain their nonimmigrant status.
“This action should not surprise you and is the unfortunate result of Harvard’s failure to comply with simple reporting requirements,” the statement added.
The DHS secretary in a post accompanying the statement on X, threatened other institutions into complying with the DHS request.
“Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country,” she wrote.
What Harvard must do – DHS
However, the Department outlined specific conditions Harvard must meet before the SEVP certification could be reconsidered.
The organisation said it was expecting response on “any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding illegal activity whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years.”
It als requested for the documentation of any “violent or dangerous activity” involving nonimmigrant students.
The government further demanded records of threats made against students or staff, including evidence in any form, attributed to foreign students.
“Any and all disciplinary records of all nonimmigrant students enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years.
“Any and all audio or video footage, in the possession of Harvard University, of any protest activity involving a nonimmigrant student on a Harvard University campus in the last five years,” the statement added.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M