Trump’s new Harvard ban forces international students to leave or ‘lose legal status’ and everyone’s asking the same question

The administration of US President Donald Trump has taken measures to put an end to Harvard University's ability to enrol international students.

Such a move could affect thousands upon thousands of international students who study at the private Ivy League school, with over 6,700 international students enrolled at the institution last academic year, university data shows, making up 27% of its student body.

Trump's new ban effectively forces such students to either leave and transfer to other schools or 'lose legal status' - and everyone is asking the exact same question.

Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, ordered the department to terminate Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification effective for the 2025-2026 school year, the department said in a statement on Thursday (22 May).

Trump's administration has taken measures to put an end to Harvard University's ability to enrol international students (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

In a letter to the university, Noem gave Harvard 'the opportunity' to regain its certification by turning over within 72 hours a raft of records about foreign students, including any video or audio of their protest activity in the past five years, Reuters reports.

Harvard has since called the move 'unlawful' in a statement.

"We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University – and this nation - immeasurably," the university responded.

"We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission."

After catching light of the news, people online likewise shared similar sentiments - namely asking how on earth the 78-year-old Republican was allowed to make such a decision and if it's even legal for starters.

Over 6,700 international students enrolled at the institution last academic year, university data shows, making up 27% of its student body (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

One social media user hit out: "What authority does he have to even do this? Serious question."

"How is this legal? Harvard is a private institution," penned a second while a third chimed in: "How exactly is that legal. What on earth has become of America?! 'Land of the free'… not anymore."

A fourth slammed: "He continues to do things he has no authority to do."

"The amount of talent we’re about to lose is astronomical," lamented a fifth. "This alone, even before it’s litigated, is destroying our universities standing and appeal to the entire world. Isolating us even more."

A sixth echoed: "How is this legal? He’s destroying America’s reputation as a bastion of international learning. Any politicians who support this are weak."

"Why is he allowed to do this??? It's a private university," pointed out another.

And a final social media user added: "People who are making a positive contribution to education, science, humanity and our future. This is a tragedy. I'm exhausted by this administration."