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Harvard College faculty deans and departmental administrators sent messages of support for international students after the Trump administration revoked the University’s ability to enroll them — even as Harvard’s top leaders remain quiet.

“In its fight with Harvard specifically and higher education generally, the Trump administration is using international students as pawns,” Philosophy chair Bernhard Nickel wrote to his department. “International students are essential members of our community. We welcome you.”

The outpouring of support for international students — and outcry over the uncertainty caused by the Trump administration’s actions — came as Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 and his central administration has yet to issue a public statement in response to the announcement.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in a Thursday letter that Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification had been halted “effective immediately” and that current international students must “transfer or lose their legal status.”

Noem justified the revocation by claiming that Harvard had failed to sufficiently comply with an April 16 records request. She also alleged that the University had perpetuated “an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ policies.”

Several of Harvard’s department and House administrators wrote in their emails that they had been told Harvard administrators would share more information shortly and that the University’s lawyers would contest the action in court soon.

“There should be more clarity over the next couple of days, and Harvard has a deep bench of very able lawyers to push back on this unprecedented step,” Paul J. Kosmin, the Classics director of undergraduate studies, wrote to his department.

MIT President Sally A. Kornbluth joined Harvard administrators in her own email to MIT affiliates, writing that she was in “profound disbelief” at the decision.

“The action the federal government took today to bar Harvard from having international students is devastating for American excellence, openness and ingenuity,” Kornbluh wrote.

Harvard administrators from at least seven departments — including African and African American Studies, Classics, English, Philosophy, Physics, Statistics, and Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology — sent messages to their affiliates in response to the announcement. The faculty deans for Adams, Currier, Eliot, Lowell, Mather, and Winthrop House also emailed residents about the revocation.

“We’ve heard some hard news today that has caused a lot of anxiety in our community. We want our international students to know that you are an essential part of Adams House. All of us — Deans, House Staff and Tutors — are here to support you,” Salmaan A. Keshavjee and Mercedes C. Becerra ’91, the faculty deans of Adams House, wrote in an email to residents.

Thursday’s move is the latest in the White House’s escalating pressure campaign against the University. Three days ago, the administration froze $60 million in federal funding, adding to the more than $2.6 billion that had already been pulled.

The pulled authorization prohibits the University from hosting any international students on F- or J- nonimmigrant visas for the 2025-2026 school year. Noem gave Harvard 72 hours to turn over international students’ disciplinary records to have “the opportunity” to regain its SEVP certification.

But it is unclear whether the White House will actually restore the credentials if the University hands over the requested documents.

SCRB department chair Amy J. Wagers and executive director Alice Rushford urged students in an email to stand by each other while they wait for further guidance from Harvard’s central administration.

“Our best advice, though we realize it is really insufficient, is to try to stay calm and support one another. We will get through this, too, together,” they wrote.

—Staff writer Darcy G Lin can be reached at darcy.lin@thecrimson.com.

—Staff writer William C. Mao can be reached at william.mao@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @williamcmao.

—Staff writer Veronica H. Paulus can be reached at veronica.paulus@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @VeronicaHPaulus.