Source：http://www.news.cn/world/20250523/9eb348fcb2c34e79b69d75a1858c436d/c.html

The U.S. government announced on May 22 that it has revoked the student and exchange visitor program 资质 (qualification) of Harvard University, banning the university from enrolling international students. According to this decision, in addition to not being able to enroll new international students, current international students at Harvard University must transfer to other universities; otherwise, they will lose their legal status.

Harvard University currently has approximately 6,800 international students and scholars from more than 140 countries and regions. Why did the U.S. government revoke Harvard’s qualification to enroll international students? How has Harvard reacted? And what will be the future of these international students at Harvard?

Why Did the U.S. Government Revoke the Qualification?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that the reason for taking this measure is that Harvard University refused to comply with the requirement of providing records related to its international students. The Secretary of Homeland Security, Nome, accused Harvard University of “creating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, showing sympathy for Hamas, and implementing the ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ policy with a racist tint.”

According to the statement issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on the same day, Nome said that this move is a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country. Nome said, “Enrolling international students is a privilege, not a right.” Since Harvard University has repeatedly violated federal laws, this privilege has been revoked.

Revoking the qualification to enroll international students is the latest measure taken by the Trump administration to suppress Harvard University. In April this year, after Harvard University refused the Trump administration’s request to reform its management structure, recruitment, and admission policies, the Trump administration froze a multi-year grant of $2.2 billion and a multi-year contract payment of $60 million to the university. In addition, the Trump administration also threatened to consider stripping Harvard University of its tax-exempt status. On April 21, Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing the government of trying to manipulate Harvard’s academic decisions by freezing federal funds.

How Has Harvard University Reacted?

Regarding the revocation of the qualification to enroll international students, Harvard University issued a statement pointing out that this action is illegal and undermines the university’s research mission. The international students and scholars at Harvard University have brought great wealth to Harvard University and even the entire country. “This retaliatory action may cause serious damage to the Harvard community and our country, and undermine Harvard’s academic and research mission.” The school is taking swift action to provide guidance and support to the affected students.

U.S. media believes that Harvard University may take legal action, filing a lawsuit against the decision of the Department of Homeland Security and asking the court to halt its implementation.

What Will Be the Future of International Students at Harvard?

Nome said that the decision to revoke the qualification will take effect from the 2025-2026 academic year. The graduating class of 2025 at Harvard University will graduate next week, and students who have completed their studies this semester can graduate normally. Students who have not completed their studies need to transfer to other universities; otherwise, they will lose their permission to legally reside in the United States.

Regarding whether the international students admitted to Harvard can enroll in the fall semester, U.S. media reports believe they cannot, unless the U.S. government changes its decision or the court intervenes. Nome said that if Harvard University meets a series of requirements within 72 hours, it can restore its qualification to receive international students. The requirements include providing the disciplinary records of international students that Harvard University previously refused to provide, as well as the audio and video materials of protest activities.

The U.S. government has the right to decide who can enter the country. The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for supervising universities participating in the “Student and Exchange Visitor Program.” This program gives universities the right to issue documents to admitted foreign students, and students can use these documents to apply for visas to study in the United States.

According to Harvard University’s data, as of the fall semester of 2023, international students accounted for more than 27% of the total number of students at Harvard. Currently, Harvard University has enrolled nearly 6,800 international students and scholars from more than 140 countries and regions, and most of them are enrolled in graduate programs.

Please note that in the above text, “资质” in Chinese was translated as “qualification” in English, but you may need to adjust it according to the more accurate professional term in the specific context if there is one. And the text is optimized to a certain extent for SEO, but you can further adjust and improve it according to actual needs.