The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced today that “Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked”— effectively barring the institution from enrolling international students and requiring current international students to transfer or face loss of legal status. This announcement follows yesterday’s statement by USCIS director-nominee Joseph Edlow declaring his intention to eliminate international students’ access to post-graduate employment opportunities through Optional Practical Training (OPT). The following is a response by Fanta Aw, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators:
“Revoking an institution’s ability to enroll international students, coupled with threats to dismantle post-graduate Optional Practical Training, are ill-conceived attacks on high-functioning systems and programs.
"Higher education institutions take the stewardship of international students on their campuses and their compliance with U.S. laws and regulations extremely seriously. Secretary Noem’s action is an unprecedented overreach and in direct violation of existing governmental policies. International students are not bargaining chips—they are scholars, researchers, and contributors to our communities whose presence strengthens U.S. higher education and society.
“Threatening to end OPT, a program that provides a proven pathway for international students to gain work experience in the United States, will have long-term consequences for the United States. For decades, practical training opportunities have helped attract international students that have advanced America’s global leadership, innovation, and economic vitality.
“We turn global talent away at our own expense. Losing international students’ contributions will negatively impact domestic students’ understanding of the world and have dire consequences for the country’s economic strength, security, and global competitiveness. These outcomes run counter to the administration’s stated goal of making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
About NAFSA: Association of International Educators
NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world’s largest and most comprehensive nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. NAFSA promotes policies that ensure the continued growth and impact of global learning, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding through study abroad, international student services, and campus internationalization. With a network of more than 10,000 professionals in the field at more than 3,500 institutions in more than 150 countries, NAFSA is committed to fostering a more globally connected and peaceful world. nafsa.org.