The U.S. government has ordered Harvard University to stop admitting international students and to expel those already enrolled, citing national security concerns. The announcement was made Friday by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who accused foreign students at the university of engaging in terrorism and espionage activities that threaten American security.
Speaking at a press conference, Noem alleged that Harvard has failed to condemn antisemitism on campus and has instead become “a hub of espionage” with links to Hamas and Chinese intelligence. “Harvard has created an unsafe environment for Jewish students,” Noem stated. “Foreign students participating in subversive activities must either be expelled or risk deportation.”
According to The Guardian, Noem’s statement also questioned the necessity of international students in Harvard’s academic mission. She emphasized concerns over information sharing between the university and China, labeling it a “cybersecurity threat” and accusing the institution of facilitating state-level espionage.
Former President Donald Trump, now a leading voice in Republican politics, supported the move earlier this week. On May 21, he declared Harvard to be “a breeding ground for hate speech” and called for the withdrawal of all federal funding from the university.
Harvard’s leadership quickly condemned the government’s directive, vowing to challenge the order in court. Interim President Alan Garber issued a strong statement asserting the university’s independence from political interference.
“No government or political party has the right to dictate the curriculum or research agenda of private institutions,” Garber said. “This decision is a grave violation of academic freedom and sets a dangerous precedent.”
Garber also reaffirmed Harvard’s commitment to its international student body. “We stand by our students and will exhaust all legal avenues to protect their education and well-being,” he said.
Harvard’s Office of Institutional Research and Analytics reports that in the 2024–2025 academic year, the university enrolled more than 6,800 international students from over 140 countries. The sudden expulsion order threatens to disrupt the education and legal status of thousands, and has triggered widespread concern across academic and diplomatic communities.
