Ban on Harvard University, experts warn Vietnamese students

That is the sharing of Ms. Phoebe Tran, Director of Crimson Education Vietnam, an organization specializing in strategic consulting to conquer the world's leading universities, in response to the anxiety and panic of many students when the US Government banned Harvard University from recruiting international students.

Recently, the administration of US President Donald Trump stripped Harvard University of its right to recruit international students.

This is a significant escalation in the long-standing tense confrontation between the US government and the country's top prestigious university.

Harvard's right to issue student visas (F and J) to international students has been revoked (Photo illustration: Sportico).

The US Department of Homeland Security has just announced that Harvard University will no longer be allowed to recruit new international students. International students currently studying at Harvard University will have to transfer or be considered illegal residents.

Talking to Dan Tri reporter about her initial thoughts on this matter, Ms. Phoebe Tran explained that Harvard is not actually banned from recruiting international students, but they are deprived of the right to provide I-20 required for visas.

In fact, they are still recruiting international students for the 2024-2025 academic year and there is no information that they will not allow international students to apply for future academic years.

Harvard’s authority to issue student visas (F and J) to international students has been revoked. This means that new international students arriving at Harvard will no longer be eligible for student visas. Current international students at Harvard will need to transfer to another university to maintain their student visas or face deportation.

According to Ms. Phoebe Tran, the incident occurred at a sensitive time when international students preparing for the 2025-2026 school year were beginning the visa application process.

This termination was carried out by the Department of Homeland Security (DOH) by revoking Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Identification System (SEVIS) Certificate, the person informed.

If you/your child has an I-20 from a university in the US, that I-20 can only be issued by a SEVIS-certified university.

Crimson Education Vietnam Director also said that this time is different from previous SEVIS terminations. Previous SEVIS terminations in March targeted students, resulting in the direct deportation or attempted deportation of international students.

The current action involving Harvard targets the university, resulting in the university no longer having the authority to admit/retain international students.

ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) manages all SEVIS certifications from U.S. universities, explains Phoebe Tran.

DHS (Department of Homeland Security) has the authority to issue directives or policies that may override ICE decisions, including termination of SEVIS records and SEVIS certification.

Harvard has failed to provide details about its international students and staff when requested by the Trump administration and has countersued the Trump administration (on the grounds that the administration's freeze on the school's research funding was illegal).

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has asked Harvard to respond within 72 hours to avoid the university being removed from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

During these 72 hours, Harvard is required to provide information on international students at the school within the past 5 years (including videos , photos, audio, written documents); illegal activities (on or off campus); dangerous or violent behavior (on or off campus); threats to students or staff; deprivation of rights of others; protest activities on campus...

As Phoebe Tran observed, the Harvard community, just hours after the SEVIS certificate was revoked, expressed support for international students.

The president of MIT, which is next to Harvard, Sally A. Kornbluth, also shared via email to the MIT community, writing that she was "in utter disbelief" about the decision.

Ms. Phoebe Tran, Director of Crimson Education Vietnam (Photo: RN).

Phoebe Tran speculated that Harvard may have two options: One is to comply with the government's request by providing requested information about international students for the past five years; the other is to take legal action against the US government's decision.

There is no evidence from past actions that Harvard will fully comply with the administration's request during the current term of President Alan M. Garber.

Additionally, based on the state of California's action last week, Harvard could also ask a federal judge to block the government's revocation of SEVIS certification.

Ms. Phoebe Tran, in this context, Vietnamese students need to avoid panic and patiently wait for more specific information in the coming days.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/lenh-cam-voi-dai-hoc-harvard-chuyen-gia-luu-y-voi-sinh-vien-viet-20250523162116458.htm