The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued a stern warning to Harvard University, threatening to revoke its authorization to enroll international students unless it complies with federal demands for information about specific visa holders. The move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and the Ivy League institution.

On Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the cancellation of two federal grants awarded to Harvard, totaling over $2.7 million. In a letter sent to the university, Noem demanded that Harvard submit records by April 30 related to what she described as the “illegal and violent activities” of certain foreign students on campus.

“If Harvard cannot demonstrate full compliance with federal reporting obligations, it will lose the privilege of enrolling foreign students,” Noem warned in an official statement.

A Harvard spokesperson confirmed receipt of the letter, stating the university was aware of the grant terminations and the visa-related inquiry. The spokesperson emphasized Harvard’s commitment to legal compliance while asserting that the university “will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”

The clash comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to pressure universities over pro-Palestinian demonstrations sparked by the U.S.-backed Israeli military campaign in Gaza. These protests erupted following the deadly Hamas-led attack in October 2023.

President Donald Trump has framed the campus protests as a threat to national security, accusing demonstrators of antisemitism and aligning with Hamas. Many protest organizers, including Jewish student groups, have strongly rejected those claims, asserting that their movement advocates for Palestinian human rights and opposes Israeli military actions—not out of extremism or antisemitism.

In addition to the funding cuts, the administration has begun revoking visas and pursuing deportation of foreign student protesters across the country.

“Harvard, with its $53.2 billion endowment, can pay for its own chaos — DHS will not,” Noem stated, accusing the university of promoting “anti-American, pro-Hamas ideology.”

Harvard has previously maintained that it stands firmly against antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, while supporting academic freedom and the right to peaceful protest.