Kristi Noem demands Harvard disclose international student data

Key Takeaways

• DHS set April 30, 2025, deadline for Harvard to disclose international student protest and conduct data or risk SEVP loss.
• Losing SEVP status would bar Harvard from enrolling new F-1 and J-1 visa students and jeopardize current student statuses.
• Over 27% of Harvard’s students are international; SEVP loss would severely damage its global standing and student diversity.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has issued a clear warning to Harvard University: if Harvard does not share detailed records on international student visa holders—especially about conduct and protest activity—by April 30, 2025, the well-known university could lose permission to host students from outside the United States 🇺🇸. This permission is given through a federal program called the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, or SEVP. This situation puts Harvard University, its many foreign students, and the wider American university system at the center of a big discussion about immigration, academic freedom, and the federal government’s role.

DHS Ultimatum to Harvard University

Secretary Kristi Noem sent a letter stating Harvard must hand over full data on its international students who hold F-1 or J-1 visas. The request demands information on the following:

• Disciplinary actions related to illegal, violent, or otherwise harmful activities.
• Involvement in protests, especially those considered threatening or disruptive to campus safety.
• Reports about students who are said to have made threats to others or acted in ways that disturb learning.
• Any behavior from these students that DHS sees as a threat to others on campus or to the school’s basic mission.

If Harvard fails to meet these demands, Secretary Kristi Noem says the university will lose its SEVP certification. SEVP is extremely important for any school in the United States 🇺🇸 that wants to accept students with F-1 or J-1 visas. Without SEVP authorization, Harvard cannot enroll any new international students, and the legal status of its current foreign students would also be at risk. This could hurt the future of thousands of aspiring students worldwide and have lasting impacts on Harvard’s place as a global leader in higher education.

Background: A High-Stakes Showdown

This warning follows a series of tough moves by the federal government. Under President Trump, $2.2 billion of Harvard’s federal funding was frozen. There were claims that the university encouraged an unsafe environment for Jewish students, especially after the Hamas attacks on Israel 🇮🇱 on October 7, 2023. Two DHS grants worth over $2.7 million have already been taken away because of concern over their use by Harvard.

Secretary Kristi Noem points to worries about anti-Semitic actions and speech at Harvard, blaming the school for not punishing protest activity that the government views as threatening to Jewish students on campus. She links these problems directly to some overseas students and teachers. According to Kristi Noem, schools that get money from American taxpayers must stand up for American values and promise a safe education space for everyone. She says,

“It is a privilege to have foreign students attend Harvard University, not a guarantee. America demands more from universities entrusted with taxpayer dollars.”

This move is a part of a bigger argument in American society right now, where federal officials say schools must be tougher on protests that are seen as hateful or dangerous, even if those protests happen on college campuses or involve foreign students here through legal visa programs.

The Response from Harvard University

Leaders at Harvard University have strongly refused to meet all of Secretary Kristi Noem’s demands. They argue that the new rules set by the Department of Homeland Security threaten the basic freedoms expected at any respected college, like the right to teach as they choose and to select staff and students without government interference. President Alan Garber made it clear that Harvard sees these demands as a sharp break from tradition, saying,

“The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”

A spokesperson for Harvard also stressed that the school already follows legal rules when sharing information about student conduct. However, they argued the government should not try to decide “what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire,” or even set up what kind of opinions must be present in their classrooms.

Harvard suggested that giving up to federal pressure by exposing detailed information about foreign students—especially about their protest activities or private discipline records—would set a worrying example. It could let government officials control what can be discussed, who can study, and what professors can say. In the university’s eyes, this level of oversight could scare students away and threaten the independence that has made American universities respected worldwide.

What Is SEVP and Why Does It Matter?

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is a federal system that makes sure schools like Harvard meet all rules to bring in international students. SEVP allows these schools to issue certain documents that students need for their visa applications, like the I-20 for the F-1 visa and the DS-2019 for the J-1 visa. Only schools recognized by SEVP can register foreign students. Harvard’s SEVP certification is essential because more than 27% of the university’s student body for the 2024–25 school year are international students. That means around 1 in 4 people on campus could lose the right to study at Harvard if Secretary Kristi Noem follows through.

When a university loses SEVP certification:

• No new F-1 or J-1 visa students can enroll.
• Students already at the school must find a new college quickly or risk falling out of legal status.
• The university’s reputation can suffer both within the United States 🇺🇸 and around the world.

This would not only hurt Harvard but could make the United States 🇺🇸 less attractive to talented students compared to other countries like Canada 🇨🇦 or the United Kingdom 🇬🇧.

The Fight Over Autonomy, Freedom, and Government Control

This is not just about Harvard’s rules or the actions of Secretary Kristi Noem. This is about the bigger picture: how much power should the U.S. government have over private colleges, especially on immigration? Some say schools need tough oversight to stay safe and protect all students. Others believe that too much government control weakens the special freedoms and creative spirit that define American colleges.

Harvard’s claim is clear:

• These federal demands go beyond what is required by law.
• Agreeing to tough outside checks on campus speech, protest, or student discipline is bad for academic freedom.
• Federal officials should not select who gets admitted or what happens in the classroom.

The government’s position, as seen through Secretary Kristi Noem’s actions, is just as clear:

• Schools that want taxpayer money and special visa powers should prove they put campus safety and U.S. values first.
• Giving data about foreign students, even on protest-related actions, is part of national security.

Funding, Tax Status, and Political Pressure

Harvard’s finances have also come under pressure. After accusations that it encouraged a hostile environment, President Trump’s team froze more than $2 billion in government funding and suggested that the school’s tax-free status could be threatened. For a school that takes pride in its endowment—the pool of money it uses to fund scholarships and research—this was a warning.

But losing SEVP status is likely a bigger challenge. Even with a huge endowment, Harvard cannot enroll new international students or legally support those already on campus without federal approval. Losing this privilege would reshape the university’s student body and shake its international standing for years.

A table below shows the stakes on each side:

As reported by VisaVerge.com, this battle between Harvard and the federal government is a test of where the line is between campus freedom and government power over immigration matters.

How Will This Affect Students and Other Schools?

If Harvard loses its SEVP certification, the direct effect is clear:

• No new international students would be allowed.
• Current students could be forced to leave unless they transfer quickly to another certified school.
• The diversity of thoughts and cultures at Harvard would shrink, possibly changing the type of research and class discussions forever.

The bigger story goes beyond just one campus. There are hundreds of American universities that rely on the SEVP to bring in students from around the world. If the rules get stricter because of this situation, colleges everywhere may have to collect and share more data about foreign students, including their peaceful protest attendance. This might scare away future students or create a culture of fear where students no longer feel free to speak up. In the long run, the United States 🇺🇸 could lose its edge as a welcoming place for the world’s smartest young minds.

International Education and American Society

International students do more than just fill classroom seats. They bring tools, ideas, and a fresh view that helps everyone think outside the box. These students contribute about $44 billion each year to the American economy through tuition, fees, and living costs. They also make American schools more competitive by sharing world experiences and giving American students a chance to see different ways of thinking.

If schools have to report every protest or ask more questions about a student’s home politics, many students and their parents may choose other countries instead. This could mean fewer bright thinkers choose the United States 🇺🇸 and that the nation falls behind competitors like Canada 🇨🇦, Australia 🇦🇺, or Germany 🇩🇪.

What Happens Next?

Harvard faces a tough decision. It can stand firm, protect its independence, and risk losing SEVP certification, which would deeply limit its place among the world’s top universities. Or, it can try to adjust its policies to keep the doors open for international students but possibly lose the freedoms that have made American higher education special.

This argument is about more than just one school. The outcome will affect:

• The right of private colleges to pick their students and teachers without outside control.
• How the United States 🇺🇸 is seen by people around the globe who want to study here.
• Whether America will keep being the first choice for college students around the world.

As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on Harvard and the Department of Homeland Security. Will Harvard resist or cooperate? Will rules for international students change for all schools, or will Harvard’s actions set an example that others will follow?

If you want to learn more about the Student and Exchange Visitor Program and its role in American education, visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official SEVP page for accurate, up-to-date details about requirements for both schools and students.

Conclusion

The threat by Secretary Kristi Noem to remove Harvard University from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program marks a serious turning point for U.S. immigration and education policy. The standoff reveals strong tensions around the balance of safety, academic freedom, and who sets the rules on American campuses. The choices made over the coming months will shape the future for thousands of ambitious students, influence the direction of major universities, and decide how open the United States 🇺🇸 remains to the world’s best young minds.

Whatever happens, the case of Harvard University, Kristi Noem, and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program will be debated for years by students, school leaders, lawmakers, and anyone who cares about the future of learning and freedom in America.

Learn Today

Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) → A federal program certifying schools to enroll international students on F-1 or J-1 visas in the United States.
F-1 Visa → A non-immigrant visa for international students pursuing full-time studies at approved U.S. educational institutions.
J-1 Visa → A visa category for exchange visitors participating in programs promoting cultural and educational exchange, including students and scholars.
SEVP Certification → Authorization granted to U.S. schools by the federal government to enroll foreign students with specific visas.
Academic Freedom → The principle allowing universities to determine curricula, research, and expression without government interference or censorship.

This Article in a Nutshell

The Department of Homeland Security demands Harvard disclose information about international students’ protests and conduct or risk losing SEVP certification. Losing SEVP would prevent new F-1 and J-1 visa admissions and put current students’ status at risk. Harvard argues this threatens academic freedom, signaling a major immigration and education policy standoff.
— By VisaVerge.com

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