The Donald Trump administration Thursday barred Harvard University from taking international students, calling it a privilege to take foreign students and employ non-immigrants on campus.A hard-hitting letter was sent to the university by the Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, who said that the action should not surprise the university authorities as it was inevitable, as the university failed to comply with the demands of the administration.“Consequences must follow to send a clear signal to Harvard and all universities that want to enjoy the privilege of enrolling foreign students, that the Trump Administration will enforce the law and root out the evils of anti-Americanism and antisemitism in society and campuses,” the letter said.Noem said if Harvard wants to continue enrolling foreign students, the university will have to comply with the Trumpa administration within 72 hours.

Harvard barred from Students’ and Exchange Visitor program: What does that mean?

It means that Harvard can’t have any foreign students in F or J non-immigrant status for the 2025-2026 academic year. “This decertification also means that existing aliens on F- or J-nonimmigrant status must transfer to another university in order to maintain their nonimmigrant status,” the letter said.

72-hour ultimatum to comply: What did the Trump administration seek from the university?

Kristi Noem mentioned in her letter that her department would revoke Harvard’s ‘privilege’ to enroll foreign students if the university provides full and complete responses.