Harvard Under Federal Scrutiny For Foreign Student Misconduct Records

Image shows famous Harvard building against a blue sky.

Harvard University faces a potential ban on enrolling foreign students as the Trump administration demands release of misconduct records, citing national security concerns and threatening billions in funding.

Quick Takes

The Trump administration has frozen $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard after the university refused to comply with demands for foreign student misconduct records
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has given Harvard until April 30, 2025 to provide information on “illegal and violent” activities by foreign student visa holders
Harvard risks losing its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, which would prevent enrollment of international students
The conflict stems from concerns about antisemitic protests following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel
Harvard is contesting the administration’s demands, claiming government overreach into university independence

Trump Administration Targets Harvard’s Foreign Student Programs

Harvard University faces unprecedented federal pressure as the Trump administration demands records on foreign student misconduct by April 30, 2025, or risks losing its ability to enroll international students. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the cancellation of $2.7 million in grants to Harvard while threatening the university’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. This certification is essential for Harvard to enroll international students, who currently make up 27.2% of its student body. The administration has already frozen $2.2 billion in multiyear grants and a $60 million contract to the university.

Harvard’s response has been defiant, with university president Alan Garber rejecting the administration’s demands as governmental overreach. This marks a significant shift for Harvard, which had previously faced criticism for yielding to administration pressure. The university now faces a difficult choice: comply with demands they view as unlawful or maintain their principles at tremendous financial cost. Beyond the billions in frozen funding, the administration has instructed the IRS to consider revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status, further threatening the institution’s financial stability.

National Security Concerns Drive Federal Demands

The administration’s focus on Harvard stems from broader concerns about campus antisemitism and potential threats to national security. Secretary Noem has directly connected campus protests to extremism, suggesting that foreign students may be involved in radical activities. This crackdown comes in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which triggered widespread protests on American campuses, including Harvard’s. The administration has particularly targeted schools accused of tolerating antisemitism during pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem weighed in, saying, “Harvard bending the knee to antisemitism—driven by its spineless leadership—fuels a cesspool of extremist riots and threatens our national security, With anti-American, pro-Hamas ideology poisoning its campus and classrooms, Harvard’s position as a top institution of higher learning is a distant memory. America demands more from universities entrusted with taxpayer dollars.”

According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, hundreds of foreign students involved in radical protests have already been deported over the past 18 months. The administration has noted a correlation between elite colleges with high percentages of international students and anti-Israel protests. Harvard is not alone in facing such scrutiny, as Columbia, Cornell, and Princeton have also had funding frozen or canceled due to similar concerns about campus antisemitism and their response to protests.

Harvard’s Defiance and Financial Stakes

Harvard has taken a firm stance against the administration’s demands, which include reducing student and faculty power, reporting foreign students’ conduct violations, and ensuring “viewpoint diversity” in academic departments. The university has stated it will not surrender its independence or constitutional rights, despite the substantial financial risks. While Harvard possesses a considerable endowment, experts note that these funds are not easily accessible to offset federal funding cuts, making the potential loss of $9 billion in federal grants a serious threat.

According to Harvard president Alan Garber, “No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”

Harvard was the first major university to openly defy the administration’s demands, setting a potential precedent for other institutions facing similar pressure. The conflict represents a broader tension between university autonomy and federal oversight, particularly regarding international students during a period of heightened security concerns. With the April 30 deadline approaching, Harvard faces difficult decisions about compliance, resistance, and the potential consequences for its international student community and financial future.

Harvard has always been insufferable, but this… The admin should make an example out of them, cut off their funding entirely, force them to double tuition or cut into their lavish endowment, and watch them fold. https://t.co/DSTv1ao49a

— Michael Walsh (@TheAmanuensis) April 14, 2025