Harvard University: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), led by Secretary Kristi Noem, took away Harvard University's certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) on May 22, 2025. This meant that Harvard could no longer enroll international students for the 2025–2026 academic year. This decision affects about 6,800 international students, including almost 800 from India, and puts their academic futures in danger.
The DHS said they were worried about an "unsafe environment" on campus and pointed to protest videos and other complaints. Harvard has 72 hours to meet six specific federal requirements in order to regain its certification and keep accepting international students.
What are those six conditions?
Harvard must meet the six conditions set by the DHS:
1. Complete Records of Illegal Activity
Harvard must send records of any illegal activity that happened in the last five years involving nonimmigrant students, which are international students on F-1 or J-1 visas. This includes things that happen on campus and off campus.
2. Behavior that is dangerous or violent
International students must provide proof of any behaviour they think is dangerous or violent, like being involved in riots, unrest on campus, or threats of harm.
3. Making threats against other people
Harvard must give over any records of international students making threats against other people, either verbally or in writing. This includes threats to faculty, staff, other students, or the public.
4. Violations of civil rights
Harvard must give any proof or records that show international students took away other people's constitutional rights, like the right to free speech or the right to move around freely. If, for example, protests led by foreign students stopped people from using university spaces or made it hard for others to speak their minds, that must be reported.
5. Records of discipline since 2020
From 2020 on, Harvard must keep all records of disciplinary actions against international students and send them in. This could mean breaking campus rules, cheating in school, or breaking the law while protesting.
6. Audio and video of the protest
The university has to turn in any audio or video of protests or demonstrations that have international students in them. This includes information from campus security, news reports, or social media if Harvard has access to it.
