The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on 9/7/2025 that it had issued an administrative subpoena to Harvard University after the university failed to comply with requests for information related to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Under US law, an administrative subpoena is a legal document issued by an executive or administrative agency, requiring an individual or organization to provide documents, records, or appear for an investigation. If the recipient fails to comply, the issuing agency can request court intervention.

"If Harvard won't protect the rights of students, we will. We tried to be nice to Harvard. But since they refused, we have to do things the hard way", DHS Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X.

She accused Harvard of allowing international students to "abuse visa privileges and support violence and terrorism on campus".

Harvard said the DHS subpoena "is not mandatory", but stated the university would cooperate with the agency.

A student stands next to a Harvard University sign in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in June 2018. Photo: Reuters

A student stands next to a Harvard University sign in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in June 2018. Photo: Reuters

This is the latest legal action by the Trump administration in its battle with Harvard, one of America's most prestigious universities. The DHS first sent a letter in April requesting information about "criminal acts or violations" by international students on campus.

Harvard has refused to give in to what it calls "excessive interference" in its academic freedom and management. The DHS then sought to revoke Harvard's SEVP certification, which allows US universities to recruit and train international students with student visas. However, the university filed a lawsuit, and a federal court in Massachusetts blocked the Trump administration's action.

In a separate action by the Trump administration, the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services sent a letter to the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), the agency that accredits and evaluates educational institutions in the US. NECHE is the body that evaluates and certifies Harvard's educational quality.

The letter states that there is "clear evidence" that Harvard can no longer meet the standards for accreditation. Federal officials said they found Harvard in violation of anti-discrimination laws and therefore requested NECHE to work with the university or revoke its accreditation if the university fails to rectify the violations.

"By allowing unchecked anti-Semitic harassment and discrimination to continue on campus, Harvard is failing in its obligations to students, educators, and American taxpayers", Education Secretary Linda McMahon said.

If its accreditation is revoked, Harvard will not be able to receive federal funding to support students. However, the US government will not be able to force NECHE to revoke a university's accreditation, as this action is often seen as a "death sentence" for the institution and is rarely used.

Thuy Lam (Newsweek, Fox News, The Hill)