Harvard University has initiated legal action against the Trump administration, challenging the government’s decision to revoke its certification for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which allows the university to enroll international students.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court on Friday, May 23, 2025, argues that the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) action is illegal. Harvard contends that the move is retaliatory, stemming from the university’s exercise of its First Amendment rights and its refusal to yield to government demands regarding its governance, curriculum, and the “ideology” of its faculty and students. Harvard is seeking an immediate injunction to block the order issued by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Secretary Noem announced the administration’s decision on X on May 22, stating that Harvard’s SEVP certification was revoked due to its “failure to adhere to the law.” This action marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard University.
She added, “Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.” Harvard responded in a statement calling the move “unlawful” and affirmed its commitment to hosting international students and scholars from over 140 countries. “We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” the university said.
Current International Student Population In Harvard
The Trump administration’s decision could affect thousands of international students at Harvard. University data indicates that over 6,700 international students, comprising 27% of the student body, were enrolled last academic year. The news has sparked fear and confusion within Harvard’s international community. Sarah Davis, an Australian graduate student and president of the Australia and New Zealand Caucus at the Harvard Kennedy School, said, “We’re seeing a lot of confusion on this.
The news has come only five days before a lot of us are due to graduate the university, and this obviously is going to have a lot of very uncertain implications for whether we’re able to stay on in the United States afterwards and keep working here.” Leo Gerdén, a 22-year-old undergraduate from Sweden, called the situation “incredibly dehumanizing,” adding, “International students are being used as poker chips in a battle between the White House and Harvard.”
Initial Investigations Against Harvard
This move comes after the Trump administration launched investigations into dozens of universities and sought concessions from institutions like Columbia University. In April, Harvard sued the administration after it sent a list of demands, later said to be sent by mistake, related to antisemitism on campus. The administration has demanded that Harvard change its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices to combat antisemitism and has threatened to revoke its tax-exempt status and freeze billions in government grants.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had previously warned Harvard that it could lose its ability to host international students if it did not comply with a sweeping records request pertaining to international students. Noem’s announcement stated that DHS has revoked Harvard’s access to the SEVP programme, meaning it cannot enroll individuals with F- or J- non-immigrant status for the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year. Individuals on these visas would have to transfer to other universities to maintain legal status.
Harvard was given 72 hours to comply with a list of demands for a chance to regain its ability to enroll these students, the requirement included providing the government with all disciplinary records for non-immigrant students enrolled at Harvard over the past five years. Noem also demanded Harvard turn over electronic records, videos, or audio of “illegal” and “dangerous or violent” activity by non-immigrant students on campus.
Noem warned on X that this should “serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.”
Decision To Curtail Visas For International Students
The Trump administration has attempted to curtail individual visas for international students, causing confusion on university campuses and leading to lawsuits.
Some visa revocations have affected foreign students who participated in political protests or had previous minor criminal charges, like driving infractions.
A federal judge in California has blocked the Trump administration from cancelling the legal status of international students while challenges to the policy are litigated.
Mr. Gerdén commented on his international classmates, “We came here because of what America stands for: freedom of speech, academic freedom, a vibrant intellectual community. And now Trump is threatening all those values.” He added, “Without the international students, Harvard is simply not Harvard anymore.”
About Harvard University
Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Founded on October 28, 1636, and named after its first benefactor, John Harvard, this private Ivy League research university is renowned for its influence, wealth, and consistently high rankings, making it one of the world’s most prestigious universities. Initially established by the Massachusetts General Court to train Congregational clergy, Harvard’s curriculum and student body gradually secularized during the 18th century.
Harvard University comprises ten academic faculties and the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences provides a broad range of undergraduate and graduate studies, while other faculties offer graduate and professional degrees. The university has three campuses: its main 209-acre campus in Cambridge, centered on Harvard Yard; a campus across the Charles River in Boston’s Allston neighborhood; and the medical campus in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area. With an endowment of $50.7 billion, Harvard is the world’s wealthiest academic institution. Its library system, Harvard Library, boasts over 20 million volumes, making it the largest academic library worldwide.
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