72 hours, 6 conditions: What foreign students at Harvard University must do to stay

The Trump administration has issued a severe blow to Harvard University by revoking its Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) certification, leaving thousands of international students facing an uncertain future.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has provided a 72-hour window for the university to comply with specific conditions to reinstate its ability to enroll foreign students.

In a letter dated May 22, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem informed Harvard University of the immediate revocation, stating, "Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country."

The impact is particularly significant for Indian students, who form a substantial portion of Harvard's international community. Currently, Harvard hosts 10,158 international students and scholars across its various schools, including 788 students and scholars from India for the 2024-25 academic year, according to the Harvard International Office.

Here are six stringent conditions that Harvard must meet within the 72-hour window:

• Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding illegal activity whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years.
• Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding dangerous or violent activity whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years.
• Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding threats to other students or university personnel whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years.
• Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnel whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years.
• Any and all disciplinary records of all nonimmigrant students enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years.
• Any and all audio or video footage, in the possession of Harvard University, of any protest activity involving a nonimmigrant student on a Harvard University campus in the last five years.

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