Can the Trump administration actually stop Harvard from enrolling foreign students

US President Donald Trump

The Trump administration has taken an extraordinary step to undercut Harvard University’s international enrolment by revoking its access to SEVIS—the federal database used to verify student visa compliance. The move, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), does not directly revoke student visas but effectively bars Harvard from legally enrolling foreign students, prompting legal questions and widespread alarm, the New York Times reported.

While Harvard is a private university with broad autonomy in admissions, the federal government controls who can enter and remain in the United States. And that’s where SEVIS—the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System—comes in. To manage and track foreign students, every US college or university must be certified to use SEVIS. Harvard’s certification has now been stripped, placing its more than 6,800 international students in immediate legal limbo.

The power behind SEVIS—and its sudden weaponisation

By denying Harvard access to SEVIS, the government isn’t cancelling individual visas, but it is severing the link that makes those visas valid. Under immigration law, students must be enrolled full-time and that enrolment must be recorded in SEVIS. Without that record, students are no longer in compliance—even if they were accepted by Harvard and still technically hold a visa.

As of now, students could still physically remain in the US, but if they are not logged into SEVIS, they would be considered out of status and could face deportation. If they attempt to transfer to another university or re-enter the US in the future, their status would likely trigger scrutiny or denial.

What does this mean for students?

The implications are massive. Harvard’s international students—who make up roughly a quarter of the student body—could lose their legal standing almost overnight. Those graduating this term may not receive the standard 60-day grace period to remain in the country or find employment. Others returning in the fall may find themselves unable to legally stay through the summer unless Harvard regains access to SEVIS or a court intervenes.

The current semester ends on May 26. Without a resolution, students could be forced to transfer or leave the country by then—if not sooner.

Can Harvard fight this?

Legal experts believe Harvard has strong grounds to challenge the move. Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, said the university will likely argue that the DHS secretary’s decision is “arbitrary and capricious,” a standard that courts often use to overturn executive actions under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Stacy Tolchin, an immigration attorney who works with international students, said Harvard could also claim the move was political retaliation in violation of the First Amendment—particularly if it's seen as part of a pattern of federal pressure on liberal institutions.

A broader political agenda?

The SEVIS move fits into a wider campaign by the Trump administration to confront elite universities over immigration, political speech, and resistance to its policy agenda. Officials have threatened funding over perceived tolerance of anti-Israel sentiment and have explored ways to curb foreign student influence on US campuses. Stripping SEVIS access—quietly, surgically, and legally—may prove to be one of the most effective tools yet.

The DHS has not revoked any individual student visas, allowing the administration to claim it isn’t directly targeting students. But make no mistake: by cutting off SEVIS access, the government has made it nearly impossible for Harvard to maintain its international program.

What happens next?

Harvard is expected to file an emergency federal lawsuit, possibly in Massachusetts, seeking to restore SEVIS access before the end of the academic term. If successful, it could halt enforcement temporarily while the case is litigated. But unless courts act quickly, the status of thousands of students remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, legal observers and university officials warn that the administration’s tactic could be used again—against any institution that relies on international enrolment. For Harvard, the battle is not just about students. It’s about whether a federal agency can, with the flick of a switch, dismantle a university’s global role—without ever touching its admissions office.