The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University鈥檚 ability to enroll international students. The school called the decision 鈥渦nlawful.鈥�
The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday it terminated Harvard鈥檚 certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Harvard of cultivating a 鈥渦nsafe鈥� campus that fosters antisemitism in a letter to the university.
鈥淚t is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments,鈥� Noem said in a press release. 鈥淟et this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.鈥�
Harvard will no longer be able to enroll students with specific nonimmigrant statuses next school year. Current Harvard students on these visas will need to transfer to a different school.
The move comes after Homeland Security demanded Harvard about their international students by April 30 or risk losing their ability to enroll them. The requested information included video footage of student protest activity, disciplinary records and documentation of any illegal activity on or off campus.
Harvard that university leadership described as 鈥渞equired by law.鈥� But in Thursday鈥檚 letter, Noem said Harvard鈥檚 response as 鈥渋nsufficient.鈥�
A spokesperson for Harvard described the Trump administration鈥檚 actions as 鈥渦nlawful鈥� and said staff are 鈥渨orking quickly鈥� to provide guidance to their international students.
鈥淲e are fully committed to maintaining Harvard鈥檚 ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University 鈥� and this nation 鈥� immeasurably,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard鈥檚 academic and research mission.鈥�
Harvard has 72 hours to provide the requested information in order to regain certification in the visitor program.
A for Harvard鈥檚 International Office assured students that updates will be provided when they become available. The announcement comes a week before commencement, when some of the university鈥檚 are set to graduate.
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