Trump administration bars Harvard from enrolling foreign students

May 23, 2025

Yesterday, the Trump administration revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students and proclaimed that current students must transfer to other schools or have their visas revoked. Read more from the Associated Press.

Secretary Kristi Noem rides alongside Border Patrol Agents at the southern border on horseback.

Photo from DHS.gov website

Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem reportedly has said that other universities should heed the warning.

According to the Associated Press, Harvard enrolls almost 6,800 international foreign students. Most are graduate students, coming from more than 100 countries.

The Department of Homeland Security alleges that Harvard has created an unsafe campus environment by allowing “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” to assault Jewish students on campus. The Associated Press reports that “[i]t also accused Harvard of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party, saying it hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024.”

This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.

It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments… pic.twitter.com/12hJWd1J86

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 22, 2025

On the same day, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from revoking international students’ visas. See this New Republic story on the ruling.

China has criticized the ban on Harvard’s international students.

Here is Havard’s message to international students.

Harvard has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s actions. Reuters reports on the lawsuit. A federal district court granted a TRO barring the Trump ban on international students at Harvard.

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