The Trump administration signaled on Thursday it might back away from plans to immediately revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students and would instead pursue a lengthier administrative process.
According to a court filing, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent Harvard a notice of intent on Wednesday to withdraw the school’s certification under the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which allows Harvard to enroll non-U.S. students.
Harvard has denied Trump administration charges of alleged bias against conservatives, fostering antisemitism on campus and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party. It has 30 days to respond to the notice.
The notice came ahead of a scheduled hearing before U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston over whether to extend a temporary order blocking U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration from revoking the Ivy League school’s right to host international students.
Harvard has said losing that right would affect about one quarter of its student body and devastate the school.
Neither Harvard nor DHS immediately responded to requests for comment.
