Harvard’s I-9 Form Submission to Federal Government
Harvard University has decided to submit an employee’s I-9 form to the federal government, as outlined in an email sent to faculty on Tuesday. This step follows a departmental investigation and involves documents for nearly all employees that prohibit students, which were also sent to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The decision appears to be influenced by the Trump administration’s growing scrutiny of international students and staff in the context of illegal immigration and recent protests at campuses.
The university has stated that it will request records pertaining to all staff employed in the last year on July 8th. An internal discussion is ongoing about whether student records may be protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which safeguards the privacy of educational records.
DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comments concerning this situation.
Amid ongoing tensions, the administration has undertaken various measures to oversee Harvard’s capacity to host international students. Recently, the State Department initiated an investigation to confirm whether the university is adhering to regulations through its Foreign Student Visa Program and remains a qualified sponsor for foreign students.
This development follows months of challenges for Harvard after the federal government revoked over $2 billion in funding when the university refused to meet demands related to anti-Semitism. The Trump administration has also scrutinized Harvard’s certifications during this period.
At the university, anti-Israel protests have led to incidents that raised concerns. A congressional survey from September 2024 indicated that nearly 70 students faced repercussions for their involvement in a pro-Palestinian camp last spring. An internal survey revealed alarming statistics: over a quarter of Jewish students reported feeling “physically unsafe” on campus, while nearly 60% encountered discrimination or negative biases.
