Trump administration revokes Harvard’s ability to enroll international students

The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The details were sent in a letter to the school, and the changes impact currently enrolled international students.

“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, wrote in a statement. “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.”

In a statement, Harvard said the action was “unlawful.”

“This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” the statement said. “We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University – and this nation – immeasurably.”

Harvard has nearly 7,000 international students, which make up about 27% of their entire student body. More than 1.1 million international students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities in the 2023-’24 school year. They do not qualify for federal financial aid, and so for many colleges represent a crucial financial lifeline.

Last academic year, international students contributed more than $43 billion to the U.S. economy, according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

 

You know Daphne du Maurier’s ‘Rebecca’ — but she also wrote these terrifying tales

Rebecca dominates du Maurier's legacy, but she wrote plenty of other macabre novels and short stories. A collection called After Midnight gathers 13 of these tales, with an intro by Stephen King.

Julian Brave NoiseCat’s survival story is both personal and ancestral

NoiseCat is the son of an Indigenous Canadian father and white mother. After a cultural genocide, he says, living your life becomes an existential question. His new memoir is We Survived the Night.

At least 27 states turned over sensitive data about food stamp recipients to USDA

Democratic-led states secured a legal victory to keep the personal data of food recipients out of the federal government's reach. But NPR's reporting shows that millions of records on Americans have already been shared.

A study found lead in popular protein powders. Here’s why you shouldn’t panic

Consumer Reports expressed concern about high levels of lead in some two dozen protein powders, but only with repeated high exposure. Here's what to know before you make your next grocery run.

Alabama ranks near bottom in latest Medicare scorecard; here’s why

A new Commonwealth Fund report paints a stark picture of how Medicare is serving older adults and people with disabilities in the Gulf South.

Some of the things Gaza needs: A government, security and tools to rebuild

A shaky ceasefire is holding. Now the Palestinian territory is in urgent need of a functioning government, order on the streets, and resources to start rebuilding the shattered territory.

More Education Coverage