On May 22, 2025, the Trump administration revoked Harvard University's certification to enroll international students, citing alleged misconduct and ties with the Chinese Communist Party. This action impacts approximately 6,800 current international students and jeopardizes a significant revenue stream, as international students pay substantial fees.

Sources: Diario AS, The Guardian, Economic Times, The Daily Beast

Administration’s Justification

The Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, justified the revocation by alleging that Harvard:

• Fostered a hostile environment for Jewish students
• Failed to comply with federal demands for detailed records on foreign students' activities

In addition, the administration froze $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard and threatened to revoke its tax-exempt status.

Sources: Diario AS, Al Jazeera, NY1, CNN, Forbes, UPI

Harvard's Legal Response

Harvard has denounced the administration's actions as unlawful and retaliatory. The university filed a lawsuit in the District Court of Massachusetts, arguing that:

• The freezing of funds was unconstitutional
• The administration’s demands infringed upon institutional independence

A federal judge in California issued an injunction, blocking the administration from:

• Terminating international students' legal status
• Detaining international students

The judge also criticized the government’s erratic legal approach.

Sources: Economic Times, The Guardian, Wikipedia, The Daily Beast

Potential Legal Protections for Harvard

Harvard's legal avenues include:

• Challenging the revocation of its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification on constitutional grounds
• Contesting the freezing of federal funds and threats to its tax-exempt status as executive overreach
• Seeking support from other academic institutions and organizations to collectively oppose the administration’s measures
  

Sources: The Express Tribune, The Daily Beast, Al Jazeera, CNN, Wikipedia

Conclusion

While the Trump administration's actions pose significant challenges to Harvard’s operations and its international student community, the legal battles underway may lead to a reversal or mitigation of these measures.

Given the judiciary's intervention and Harvard’s firm stance on protecting its autonomy, there is a possibility that this situation is temporary and may not result in long-term restrictions on Harvard’s ability to enroll international students.