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Breaking with past policy, Harvard College announced that international students can accept admission to both Harvard and a second, non-American institution in an email to incoming international students Sunday morning.

The announcement came as newly admitted students gathered at Harvard for Visitas, the College’s prospective student weekend. The email — sent by the Harvard College Admissions and Financial Aid Office — acknowledged that international students may want a “backup plan” as the Trump administration moves to block Harvard’s authorization to host them.

“We are aware that our admitted international students and their families are concerned about recent events here in the United States and at Harvard regarding enrollment at colleges in the coming year,” the email reads.

Typically, admitted students must declare their intent to attend Harvard on May 1 and may not simultaneously commit to another university. But the change — which did not set a deadline for international students to decline their second offer — gives international students time to weigh their options.

The change comes after the Department of Homeland Security threatened to revoke Harvard’s eligibility to sponsor international students if it failed to hand over information on international students’ disciplinary records, including information related to protest participation.

Harvard has yet to say how it will respond to the DHS’s request, with the deadline to do so approaching on April 30.

The email to international admits stated that Harvard could not allow them to hold a spot at another American university — both for legal reasons and “because the situation at Harvard might be replicated at other American universities.”

A Harvard spokesperson declined to comment on the policy change and its connection to the DHS letter.

The Trump administration has revoked visas from international students across the country — and Harvard has been no exception. But, as of Saturday, all 12 Harvard students and recent graduates whose student visas were revoked have had their visas reinstated, according to the Harvard International Office.

In the Sunday email, the Admissions and Financial Aid Office advised students that they could defer their acceptance if they are unable to secure a visa before the next academic year begins. But students who enroll at other universities in the interim would have to reapply to transfer to Harvard.

The government has also asked Harvard to screen international applicants during the admissions process. In a series of demands sent to Harvard on April 11, federal agencies asked the University to reject international students they determine to be “hostile to the American values and institutions inscribed in the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence.”

Harvard rebuffed the demands days after they were sent — then went to court to block the Trump administration’s penalties. But Harvard has not taken legal action against the DHS letter.

In Sunday’s email, the admissions office wrote that Harvard was “doing everything possible to enroll the students we have admitted.”

“You have been admitted to Harvard College because we believe you have something special to offer our community,” the email told international admits. “We want you here as our student, and we look forward to working with you to help make that possible.”

–Staff writer Abigail S. Gerstein can be reached at abigail.gerstein@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @abbysgerstein.

–Staff writer Avi W. Burstein can be reached at avi.burstein@thecrimson.com.