May 22, 2025 — Harvard's International Student Ban — Impact & Next Steps

SPECIAL EDITION NEWSLETTER: Harvard's International Student Ban — Impact & Next Steps

Earlier today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification has been revoked, barring the University from enrolling international students "effective immediately."

This marks the latest and most dramatic escalation in the federal government's campaign against Harvard — and, in the administration's words, is intended as a "warning to all universities." For now, the University has 72 hours to comply with sweeping federal demands in order to potentially regain its certification. Otherwise, the loss is expected to take full effect beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year and affects currently enrolled students.

DHS previously warned Harvard on April 16: "if Harvard cannot verify it is in full compliance with its reporting requirements, the university will lose the privilege of enrolling foreign students."

It seems clear the government's action here is disproportionate and unreasonable — partial noncompliance with reporting requirements should not warrant such a severe escalation. Yet it remains uncertain whether Harvard itself is acting entirely reasonably. Historically, the University has shown reluctance to share information even with those making legitimate requests. Harvard has not publicly commented on the extent to which it has met these reporting requirements or detailed its views on their legality, though today a University spokesperson characterized the SEVP revocation as "unlawful."

We at 1636 Forum reiterate our consistent stance: we oppose unlawful government overreach and believe Harvard is justified in pushing back on such actions and should continue to pursue essential internal reforms independently. But outrage alone is not a viable strategy, and Harvard faces a precarious situation — one that financial resources alone cannot resolve.

So, in this special edition of the newsletter, we aim to help readers make sense of the difficult choices Harvard now faces. What happens next will depend not just on principle, but on timing, legal risk, and the realities of institutional structure and constraint.

Keep reading for:

— What DHS announced and why

— Key takeaways from 1636 Forum, including the legal, financial, institutional, and global stakes

— What might happen next, including the 72-hour deadline, legal options, and graduation risks, and more

What happened, and why?

Today, DHS revoked Harvard's SEVP certification, halting the University's ability to enroll international students "effective immediately," according to a letter from Secretary Kristi Noem. DHS stated that "existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status," and accused Harvard of fostering "an unsafe campus environment," in part due to the foreign students who "physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students."

According to Noem's letter today, Harvard lost its certification after failing to comply with an April 16 request for "relevant information" on nonimmigrant students, including known misconduct, disciplinary actions, and whether students had obstructed the University's learning environment or failed to meet visa requirements. That letter explicitly warned that failure to comply could result in the revocation of Harvard's SEVP certification.

DHS further demanded today that Harvard turn over five years' worth of protest-related audio and video footage, and stated that if Harvard "would like the opportunity of regaining" its certification before the upcoming academic year, it must submit all requested materials within 72 hours.

In response to the federal government's actions, a Harvard spokesperson assured, "We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the university — and this nation — immeasurably."

DHS' reference to "physica[l] assault" of "Jewish students" comes amid growing scrutiny of Harvard's disciplinary process. On Wednesday night, The Free Press reported on how two of its students charged by the DA with assault in a high-profile October 2023 altercation with Israeli Jewish HBS student Yoav Segev have not only avoided discipline but received University honors: Harvard Law School (HLS) student Ibrahim Bharmal was awarded a $65,000 fellowship from the Law Review, while Divinity School (HDS) student Elom Tettey-Tamaklo was elected a Class Marshal and will help lead his peers into Commencement next week. The deans of HLS and HDS have not yet publicly commented on these decisions.

What are the 1636 Forum's Key Takeaways?

This isn't a problem Harvard can pay its way out of. 

— Even the loss of federal research funding — while catastrophic — is ultimately a financial challenge the University can attempt to offset with philanthropy or endowment draws. But SEVP decertification is a regulatory cutoff; no amount of money can buy back the legal ability to enroll international students.

Nearly 6,800 international students are directly affected. 

— That's approximately 27% of Harvard's entire student body, according to University data. If the decision remains in effect, some programs' enrollment will likely be hit especially hard, for example:
— Harvard Kennedy School: 59% international (2024)
— Harvard Graduate School of Education: 42% international (2024)
— Harvard School of Public Health: 40% international (2024)
— Harvard Business School's MBA program: 35% international (2024)

The scope of financial implications are unclear but potentially serious. 

— DHS has explicitly positioned international students as both a security risk and a financial lever. Secretary Noem criticized universities for using international tuition "to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments" and noted that "the Government understands that Harvard University relies heavily on foreign student funding… to build and maintain their substantial endowment."

— That rhetoric points to more than just symbolic pressure — its financial implications are real.  With tuition for degree-granting tuition comprising approximately $1.1 billion in annual revenue, international students likely contribute over $303 million each year — a notable share at risk if SEVP certification is not restored. Though Harvard states that admissions are need-blind for international students, The New York Times notes that they often pay full tuition. Losing this cohort would pose major budgetary challenges, especially for schools that rely on international enrollment to help offset financial aid and operating costs.

Non-degree programs like Executive Education add hundreds of millions more in potential losses.

— The 6,800 figure reflects only international students in Harvard's degree-granting programs, but the University serves thousands more annually through non-degree offerings — such as Executive Education at Harvard Business School (HBS), where 70% of its 12,300+ participants were international in 2024 and financial aid is minimal. With HBS Executive Education tuition bringing in $245 million in FY2024, lost international enrollment could account for roughly $171 million in additional annual exposure.

— Although it's unclear precisely how SEVP revocation would affect these students, Executive and Continuing Education comprised 43% of Harvard's total education revenue in FY2024.

The risks of suing are high — and could accelerate enforcement. 

— While DHS has said the revocation applies to the 2025–2026 academic year, its letter states that Harvard's SEVP certification is "revoked effective immediately." Immigration attorneys told The Crimson that the decision does not automatically invalidate visas and that a grace period is likely, though no formal timeline has been provided.

— Still, if Harvard files a lawsuit and seeks preliminary injunction (i.e., immediate relief) — and loses — DHS could begin enforcing the order right away. That would heighten the risk of international students falling out of status, with unclear consequences.

— A federal judge in California granted a temporary injunction on Thursday, "protecting international students who were among the thousands whose visas were revoked earlier this year without clear justification." Although this decision is unrelated to Harvard's SEVP case, The New York Times notes it "is likely that this nationwide order could at least in part prevent the Trump administration's [Harvard] move from being enforced."

Harvard faces a no-win choice.

— Unlike when Harvard rejected the extensive government demands in the April 11 letter and the campus community — including professors whose research grants were frozen in retaliation — rallied behind the University's bold stance, this situation is more complicated in terms of campus opinion. Harvard faces a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" dilemma: pushing back risks jeopardizing the status of international students, yet compliance might be viewed as capitulation — and still may not prevent further government actions affecting international students. Many on campus feel deeply conflicted about actions that could harm their international peers.

Harvard risks losing a generation of international talent. 

— International students contribute not only tuition dollars but also research, innovation, and global perspective across every school. A sustained loss of SEVP certification would severely undermine Harvard's ability to attract and retain top talent from around the world.

What's next?

Harvard could sue — the question is how quickly.

— As of 8 p.m. ET Thursday, the University had not yet announced legal action, but The New York Times reports that "this latest move is likely to prompt a second legal challenge from Harvard," based on conversations with "a person familiar with the school's thinking." If Harvard does pursue a lawsuit in federal court and seeks immediate relief through a temporary restraining order (TRO) or preliminary injunction to pause the enforcement of the SEVP revocation, the outcome of that legal effort could dramatically shape what happens next.

It remains to be seen whether DHS enforces its 72-hour deadline.

— DHS has stated that Harvard must submit all requested documentation within 72 hours to have any chance of regaining certification before the upcoming academic year. What's not yet clear is whether the agency will hold firm to that timeline or allow Harvard to continue assembling materials if the University signals a willingness to engage. The standard DHS will use to evaluate compliance also remains undefined.

Harvard may take further steps to adapt its admissions policies.

— In April, Harvard College broke from precedent by allowing newly admitted international students to accept offers from both Harvard and a non-U.S. university. The move, framed as a way to provide a "backup plan" amid the threat of SEVP decertification, reflects how seriously the University is treating the uncertainty. If the crisis continues or escalates, additional policy shifts — especially around international admissions and enrollment timelines — may follow.

Some students may consider transferring immediately — but that, too, carries complexity and risk.

— As uncertainty grows, some international students may look to transfer to other SEVP-certified universities to preserve their visa status. An immigration lawyer interviewed by The Crimson said her firm advises clients in similar situations to transfer within "15 days at best."

— However, many U.S. universities closed their transfer periods in March, and peer universities are unlikely to have the capacity to absorb 6,800 residential students on such short notice.

— Harvard could attempt partnerships allowing temporary transfers with a path back to campus, but this approach is complicated. Universities accepting Harvard students through such arrangements could themselves become targets of federal scrutiny.

The institutional consequences may outlast the crisis.

— The federal government could escalate further — for instance, by revoking Harvard's ability to sponsor visas for its 4,500 international scholars, not just its 6,800 international students.

— Beyond the immediate crisis, the loss of SEVP certification affects more than just enrollment. It could reshape Harvard's admissions policies, hiring practices, research collaboration, and global reputation. Even if reversed, this episode is likely to have lasting effects on how international students and scholars view the University — and how Harvard navigates its autonomy under ongoing federal pressure.

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