Recently, rumors that "Harvard University has been disqualified from accepting international students" have attracted widespread attention on social platforms. According to unconfirmed news, the team of former U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked Harvard University's "Student and Exchange Visitor Program" (SEVP) certification and warned current international students to transfer as soon as possible, otherwise they will face the risk of visa revocation.
Unconfirmed Allegations: Harvard Accused of "Supporting Violence" and "Refusing to Cooperate with Investigations"
According to online messages, the position of the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security has been taken over by Kristi Noem, who announced sanctions against Harvard University. She accused the school of "condoning violence, tolerating anti-Semitism," and also claimed that it "has collaborative relations with the Chinese Communist Party." Noem also hinted that other universities that have not disclosed international student information might face similar sanctions.
However, as of now, there is no solid evidence to prove that this personnel appointment is true. The official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security still lists Alejandro Mayorkas as the current secretary, and the White House has not issued any announcements regarding the change.
Harvard Strongly Retaliates: This is Political Retaliation and Illegal Suppression
In response, Harvard University quickly issued a statement, stating that the accusation is "baseless" and condemned the action as "political retaliation against academic freedom," emphasizing that such practices would severely damage the reputation and attractiveness of higher education in the United States globally.
Harvard pointed out that for the 2024-2025 academic year, the school has about 6,800 international students, accounting for 27% of the total student body. Among them, Chinese students are the main group, with others coming from Canada, India, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. According to estimates by the Association of International Educators (NAFSA), this group contributed approximately $384 million to Harvard in the last academic year, creating nearly 4,000 jobs.
Rumors of Federal Funding Freeze Intensify Tense Atmosphere
Furthermore, related rumors also claim that Trump's team has frozen about $3 billion in federal funding to Harvard and cut $60 million from the U.S. Department of Health's budget. Some commentators believe that this move is related to Harvard's inadequate response to racism and anti-Semitic sentiments on campus.
Earlier this month, Harvard reaffirmed in court documents that it firmly opposes anti-Semitism and promises to ensure the safety of Jewish and Israeli students on campus.
Expert: International Students Used as Political Hostages
American immigration policy analyst Aaron Reichlin-Melnick criticized that if the rumors are true, "innocent students are being used as political tools," which is a serious violation of student rights. He added that student visa policies should be based on legal procedures, not political will.
A recent federal court ruling also pointed out that the government cannot revoke student visas without due legal process, but it is unclear whether this ruling applies in the current situation.
Authenticity of Information in Doubt, No Authoritative Source Confirmation Yet
Currently, including CNN, The New York Times, and Reuters, mainstream U.S. media have not reported on the claim that Harvard's SEVP qualifications have been revoked. Also, Trump has not yet resumed control of the federal government, and if his team wants to push such policies, it would require cooperation from multiple federal agencies and face significant legal challenges.
If the news is eventually confirmed, its potential impacts include:
Thousands of international students facing the risk of visa invalidation and forced transfer;
The attractiveness of U.S. higher education to international talent being severely damaged;
Sino-American educational and cultural exchanges possibly being frozen;
U.S. immigration and education policies becoming further politicized.
The news is still in the circulation stage, please carefully judge the source of information and wait for authoritative institutions to issue formal notices or explanations.
