The Trump administration is not messing around. After multiple warnings, Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign students has been shut down for the time being.

The Ivy League has been under fire for allegations of anti-American sentiment, anti-Semitism, and ties to pro-terrorist activities. Now, the Trump administration is hitting back — hard. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivered a scorching rebuke on X: “This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.”

She continued to note that “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 a result, “They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program [SEVP] certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law.”

This decision affects up to 27% of Harvard’s student body. In a letter sent to the Ivy League on Thursday, Noem laid it all out on the table:

“This action should not surprise you and is the unfortunate result of Harvard’s failure to comply with simple reporting requirements. On April 16, 2025, I requested records pertaining to nonimmigrant students enrolled at Harvard University, including information regarding misconduct and other offenses that would render foreign students inadmissible or removable. On April 30, 2025, Harvard’s council provided information that he represented as responsive to my request. It was not.

“As a courtesy that Harvard was not legally entitled to, the acting DHS general counsel responded on my behalf and afforded Harvard another opportunity to comply. Harvard again provided an insufficient response. Consequences must follow to send a clear signal to Harvard and all universities that want to enjoy the privilege of enrolling foreign students, that the Trump Administration will enforce the law and root out the evils of anti-Americanism and antisemitism in society and campuses.”

Noem’s letter outlined a final opportunity for Harvard to regain SEVP certification before the upcoming academic year, setting a strict 72-hour deadline for full compliance. She warned that failure to provide accurate and complete information could lead to severe consequences, including potential criminal prosecution for submitting “materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent information.” Noem’s message was unequivocal: the Trump administration will not tolerate universities flouting federal law while enjoying the financial benefits of enrolling foreign students.

The decision has sparked discussion about the broader implications for elite institutions. Chris Gacek, senior fellow for Regulatory Affairs at Family Research Council, provided insight into the issue in an interview with The Washington Stand. He described admission to a prestigious institution like Harvard as an “extremely precious” opportunity, arguing that American universities are a vital national resource.

However, Gacek expressed concern that when nearly a quarter of Harvard’s student body consists of foreign students, the U.S. bears significant costs — both economic and cultural. “If I’m Harvard, I don’t want to be in this situation,” he remarked, likening the administration’s response to a relentless game of “whack-a-mole.”

Gacek argued that elite universities, like Harvard, prioritize global interests over national ones by admitting international students (e.g., from Iran) for diversity or economic reasons. However, he added, this reduces opportunities for qualified American students. Gacek contended that this reflects a broader “social contract” where universities, influenced by a globalized, free-trade mindset, favor cost-cutting or international prestige over domestic talent. With only 4% of applicants accepted and high academic standards, the suggestion is that universities are deliberately choosing non-Americans, effectively discriminating against capable American students.

For the Trump administration, Harvard’s noncompliance was the “straw that broke the camel’s back,” according to Gacek. He argued that the administration is fed up with what it perceives as Harvard’s willingness to admit “virulently hateful, horrible communists and Jew-haters” while disregarding federal oversight. “We don’t do Jew-hater in America,” Gacek stated bluntly. “We’re done with that … and we don’t need to import communists.”

He predicted that Harvard would attempt to challenge the administration’s decision but expressed skepticism about their chances of success. “Trump is not going to lose this because his administration does not have to grant visas to people,” Gacek asserted, framing the move as a strategic strike against a symbolic giant. “If they take down Goliath, they can take down everybody.”