The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has warned Harvard University that it could lose the authority to enroll foreign students if it fails to meet specific demands from the Trump administration.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Harvard must submit records by April 30 related to alleged “illegal and violent activities” involving its international students. If Harvard cannot confirm full compliance with visa reporting requirements, the university may lose the privilege of admitting foreign enrollees.
In addition to the warning, DHS has terminated two grants to Harvard totaling over $2.7 million. Noem claimed the university harbors an “anti-American, pro-Hamas ideology,” pointing to recent pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
Harvard responded that it stands by its independence and constitutional rights while affirming it will abide by the law.
This is the latest move in a broader campaign by the Trump administration targeting elite universities. Officials have threatened to pull federal funds, revoke tax-exempt status, and enforce restrictions linked to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and student protests, especially related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Harvard argued that such actions threaten academic freedom, financial aid, and critical medical research. Rights groups have also expressed concern over free speech, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab bias tied to the administration’s crackdown.