Thanks to you, we know more and understand more, and our country and our world are more enlightened and more resilient. We will support you as we do our utmost to ensure that Harvard remains open to the world.”
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22 May 2025: The Day That Shook Harvard
On May 22, 2025, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) took a drastic and unprecedented step: it revoked Harvard University’s certification to host international students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This revocation effectively stripped the university of its ability to enroll and host thousands of international students, sparking alarm across academic and diplomatic communities.
The DHS cited Harvard’s alleged failure to address campus antisemitism adequately and claimed noncompliance with federal demands, including a 72-hour ultimatum to hand over audiovisual recordings and documents related to student protests, disciplinary actions, and visa histories. Information about whether international students had taken part in any political demonstrations or “illegal activities” was also requested from Harvard by the Trump administration.
Read: Degree Programs and Courses at Harvard
The Fallout: 800 Indian Students and Thousands More at Risk
This revocation had immediate and serious consequences. At Harvard, over 6,800 foreign students, including about 800 from India, were in danger of being deported right away. Even after fulfilling the necessary procedures, newly admitted students could not enroll. Current students’ academic and professional paths would be abruptly halted if they were forced to transfer to another SEVP-certified school or leave the country.
The decision also presented a serious institutional threat: Harvard would lose 26% of its student body and sustain significant harm to its reputation around the world.
Harvard Fights Back
Harvard answered in a matter of hours. It challenged DHS’s revocation order in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court on May 23. The university said that it was being singled out for defending academic freedom and student expression, calling the government’s action “unprecedented and retaliatory.”
Harvard’s legal team stated that the DHS action would cause “immediate and irreparable injury,” including the disruption of carefully planned enrollments, reputational harm, and the displacement of thousands of students and their families. The university also contended that the decision violated due process and administrative norms.
Court Intervenes: A Temporary Win
Just two hours after Harvard filed its case, U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs granted the university a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), blocking the DHS action from going into effect. The TRO prevents DHS from enforcing the SEVP decertification and halts the 72-hour ultimatum, including the demand for sensitive student data and protest footage.
Until additional hearings can decide whether to permanently halt the DHS order, the TRO remains in effect. A preliminary injunction hearing is set for May 29 after a status hearing on May 27.
Harvard’s President’s Reply.
In a letter to the Harvard community, university leadership reiterated its commitment to international students and academic freedom. The letter read:
“Thanks to you, we know more and understand more, and our country and our world are more enlightened and more resilient. We will support you as we do our utmost to ensure that Harvard remains open to the world.”
This message underscored Harvard’s stance not just as a legal opponent of the DHS order, but as a moral and intellectual defender of global diversity, which Harvard is well known for. “Of course it’s bigger than Harvard, because we look at what’s at risk here. What’s at risk is the excellence of higher education in the United States, and in particular the research mission of many of our universities, which plays such a vital role in the U.S. economy and in the health and well-being of the American people,” said Garber.
Read: How to get into Harvard University in 2025 for International Students
The Bigger Picture: Politics, Power, and Precedent
This conflict involves more than just one university and its students. It represents a larger conflict between federal power and universities over civil liberties, immigration, and institutional autonomy. Critics have labeled DHS’s action as politically motivated because it is consistent with larger crackdowns on dissent and international movement in the Trump era.
International students are more than just tuition payers; they are researchers, teaching fellows, and future innovators who enrich academic and national communities. As India Today noted, this saga has also raised serious concerns in India and other countries that send large numbers of students to the U.S.
What’s Next?
The next hearings on May 27 and 29 will be pivotal. If the court grants a preliminary injunction, Harvard could be shielded from SEVP decertification while the full case is litigated. If not, thousands of students may once again face deportation, and the university could be forced to restructure its enrollments.
However, Harvard remains determined. Backed by public support, legal precedent, and moral clarity, it has vowed to fight and win.
In the words of its leadership, Harvard intends to remain “open to the world.”
