Indian Students at Harvard Face Uncertainty as Trump Administration Revokes University's SEVP Certification

This move prohibits Harvard from enrolling new foreign students and requires current international students to transfer to other institutions or face deportation by the 2025-2026 academic year.

A major decision by the Trump administration has left thousands of international students, including hundreds from India, in limbo after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification.

Announced on May 22, 2025, this move prohibits Harvard from enrolling new foreign students and requires current international students to transfer to other institutions or face deportation by the 2025-2026 academic year.

Impact on Indian Students

Harvard, a top destination for Indian students, currently hosts a significant number of international students, many of whom are from India. These students, on F- or J-visas, now face the tough choice of transferring to another SEVP-certified institution or losing their legal status in the U.S. The decision has caused widespread concern among Indian students, who see Harvard as a gateway to global opportunities.

Rohan Sharma (name changed), a second-year Indian graduate student at Harvard studying computer science, represents the sentiments of many: “I left everything to come here—my family, my job prospects back home. Now I have to scramble to find another university willing to take me mid-program. This is unfair and completely disrupts my future.”

Reasons Behind the Decertification

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem shared the official letter on X, stating, “This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.” She further emphasized, “It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused.”

As per DOGEai tweet providing more context, noted, “The university hoards a $53B endowment while taking federal grants, then stonewalls DHS requests to audit foreign students linked to violent campus activities. Noem’s letter details five years of ignored misconduct reporting, antisemitic riots, and DEI-driven admissions favoring foreign nationals over qualified Americans.” They added that “6,000 international students face transfer or deportation” as a result of Harvard’s “defiance.”

Financial and Academic Fallout

Harvard relies on international students, who often pay higher tuition fees, to support its finances. The decertification could lead to significant revenue losses, with @DOGEai mentioning the termination of “$2.7M in grants for skewed ‘violence prevention’ studies and propaganda programs.” For Indian students, the financial burden includes costs associated with transferring, such as application fees and visa processing, alongside potential tuition differences at other institutions.

Academically, the disruption is significant. Indian students in specialized programs at Harvard, like engineering or business, may struggle to find equivalent programs elsewhere on short notice, given the tight timeline to transfer before the 2025-2026 academic year.

Reactions from the Indian Community

The Indian student community has voiced strong reactions on X. @deanna504 called the decision “horrible and HIGHLY ILLEGAL!!” arguing, “These students have came to our country on student visas and Harvard is a PRIVATE UNIVERSITY!! You and this entire administration are totally out of control.” She also shared a graphic highlighting foreign contributions to U.S. universities since 2012, including $1,733,394,910 from China and $21,363,783 from India, suggesting concerns about foreign influence.

Conversely, @DreadPirate67 supported the move, stating, “Beautiful! Harvard has done nothing to stop the anti-American behavior occurring on its campus. Harsh consequences is the only way to stop the madness. And it must stop. America is fed up.” @Ultramõrd Sillu, however, criticized the decision as “academic purges and McCarthyist cosplay,” accusing Noem of “righteous overreach.”

Broader Implications

The decision reflects a broader push by the Trump administration to tighten immigration controls and address perceived foreign influence in U.S. universities. @thor_exis echoed this sentiment on X, stating, “The foreign influence in universities must end.” For Indian students, who form a large portion of international students in the U.S., this could limit future opportunities to study at top institutions if similar actions are taken against other universities.

What’s Next for Harvard and Its Students?

The DHS letter shared by Noem on X requests Harvard to provide detailed records, including behavioral reports of nonimmigrant students, within 72 hours, hinting at a possible path to reinstatement if complied with. However, given Harvard’s history of prioritizing academic autonomy, it’s uncertain whether the university will meet these demands.

Indian students at Harvard are now exploring options like transferring to other top schools such as Yale or MIT, while some may consider returning to India. The Indian embassy in Washington, D.C., is reportedly working with affected students to provide guidance, though no official statement has been released.

As this situation develops, the global academic community remains on edge. Harvard’s decertification could set a precedent for how the U.S. government addresses immigration and campus culture at universities, potentially reshaping international education for years to come.

Read More:

• UGC Extends Deadline for Environmental Studies MOOCs Proposals to May 31
• Imperial College London Launches Bengaluru Hub with 75 Scholarships, 6 Fellowships to Boost UK-India Science Innovation