Dear Members of the HMS Community:
Our international students and scholars bring tremendous talent, energy, and ambition to Harvard Medical School, and they are valued, essential, and part of the fabric of our community. They are here to learn, train, and work, and they are critical to advancing the biomedical research that is the hallmark of our community and that has led to countless lifesaving and life-altering therapies.
That is why I am thrilled by the actions the University is taking to defend and protect our international students and scholars following the federal government’s recent announcement threatening our students’ and trainees’ visas. Per President Garber’s message below, Harvard has filed a complaint against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO), which was granted by the court earlier today. The document filings can be found here.
This is a rapidly evolving situation, and I know many of you have questions and are looking for answers. I want to assure you that everyone in leadership at the University and our School is working feverishly to sort through the details and provide answers to your questions.
In the meantime, let me provide some clarity and guidance now where we can:
- Although there is a TRO blocking the enforcement of the government’s actions, we want to clarify that the DHS letter references the revocation of all F and J visas sponsored by Harvard, which includes approximately 1,000 individuals across the HMS community. It does not reference other types of Visas, including H1-B and travel visas.
- New information and guidance for international students and scholars will be posted on the Harvard International Office (HIO) website as it is available. Notably, the HIO has just posted answers to frequently asked questions related to the actions by DHS. A second set of FAQs covering general immigration information and enforcement actions is also available.
- Answers to specific questions regarding what to do if you are approached by or encounter immigration authorities or ICE agents on campus are included in the HIO Immigration FAQs.
- Individuals on visas sponsored by other institutions, including HMS-affiliated hospitals, should contact the sponsoring institution for resources, guidance, and answers to any specific questions.
- We know this is a deeply uncertain and unsettling time. We have a dedicated webpage that provides a list of safety and well-being resources for the HMS community. We hope you will familiarize yourself with and access these resources.
I hope this guidance is a helpful start, and we will be in touch when there is more information to share. Until then, please know that Harvard is doing everything in its power to support our international students and scholars, who without question are part of the lifeblood of our HMS and University community.
Sincerely,
George Q. Daley
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
Harvard University
Dear Members of the Harvard Community,
Yesterday, the federal government announced that it has revoked Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and stripped the University of its authority to sponsor F- and J- visas for international students and scholars for the 2025-26 academic year. The revocation continues a series of government actions to retaliate against Harvard for our refusal to surrender our academic independence and to submit to the federal government’s illegal assertion of control over our curriculum, our faculty, and our student body.
We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action. It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams. We have just filed a complaint, and a motion for a temporary restraining order will follow. As we pursue legal remedies, we will do everything in our power to support our students and scholars. The Harvard International Office will provide periodic updates as new information becomes available.
The government has claimed that its destructive action is based on Harvard’s failure to comply with requests for information from the US Department of Homeland Security. In fact, Harvard did respond to the Department’s requests as required by law.
For those international students and scholars affected by yesterday’s action, know that you are vital members of our community. You are our classmates and friends, our colleagues and mentors, our partners in the work of this great institution. Thanks to you, we know more and understand more, and our country and our world are more enlightened and more resilient. We will support you as we do our utmost to ensure that Harvard remains open to the world.
Sincerely,
Alan M. Garber