DHS Terminates Harvard’s Foreign Student Program Over Antisemitism and CCP Ties

A recent decision by the Department of Homeland Security has brought major attention to one of Harvard University’s international programs. The move follows growing concerns over institutional practices and affiliations involving foreign students.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has taken the rare step of terminating Harvard University’s certification to host international students through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This decision, announced by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, comes amid a growing federal crackdown on what officials describe as rising antisemitism, unsafe campus environments, and foreign influence—specifically ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)—within major American universities.

In her statement, Secretary Noem accused Harvard of repeatedly failing to comply with federal regulations and oversight procedures required to maintain SEVP status. “This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” she said. Noem emphasized that hosting international students is not a right but a privilege that comes with strict responsibilities, which, she said, Harvard had willfully ignored.

Before the revocation, Harvard was authorized to enroll up to 6,793 international students for the 2024–2025 academic year. However, under the DHS action, Harvard will be barred from admitting any new international students on F-1 or J-1 visas for the 2025–2026 school year. In addition, all current foreign students enrolled under the SEVP program must either transfer to another certified institution or return to their countries of origin, a disruption likely to impact hundreds of academic careers.

In a formal letter addressed to Maureen Martin, Director of Immigration Services at Harvard, DHS officials detailed the university’s noncompliance, including failure to provide timely responses to federal inquiries. The letter also cited Harvard’s refusal to address concerns related to campus antisemitism, its continued support of racially divisive “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) policies, and allegations of pro-Hamas activism among student groups and faculty.

The letter went further, warning that any provision of materially false or fraudulent information to federal authorities could result in criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 1001, which covers false statements to the government. DHS is also demanding that Harvard submit detailed records, including documentation of any foreign students’ involvement in protests, demonstrations, or activities tied to threats or violence against Jewish students, as well as a comprehensive list of faculty, staff, and students receiving funding from foreign governments or foreign-controlled organizations.

This unprecedented action by DHS follows the Trump administration’s earlier decision to revoke $2.7 million in federal research grants previously awarded to Harvard. Both moves signal a broader campaign by the administration to clamp down on antisemitic incidents and foreign entanglements within elite academic institutions, particularly those receiving substantial federal funding.

Secretary Noem made it clear that Harvard’s inability—or unwillingness—to cooperate with federal standards will have lasting consequences. “It is a privilege to enroll foreign students, and it is also a privilege to employ aliens on campus,” she stated. “Harvard has lost both privileges due to its ongoing non-compliance and disregard for federal law.“

Harvard will now be prohibited from reapplying for SEVP certification until it fully addresses and resolves all violations, and provides documented evidence of policy reforms and institutional compliance. Until then, the university will no longer be recognized as an approved institution for foreign student enrollment.

In concluding her statement, Noem issued a strong message to other American universities: “Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. This action should serve as a clear warning—federal support comes with accountability, and no institution is above the law.“

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