Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration’s Efforts to Restrict Harvard’s International Student Enrollment
Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration’s Efforts to Restrict Harvard’s International Student Enrollment
On Friday, a federal judge in Boston issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration’s attempts to prevent Harvard University from hosting international students. This injunction maintains Harvard’s ability to enroll international students while the ongoing lawsuit between Harvard and the administration is resolved. The ruling follows a May 22nd action by the Department of Homeland Security, which revoked Harvard’s certification to host foreign students and issue necessary visa paperwork, potentially affecting approximately 7,000 students – roughly a quarter of Harvard’s student body.
Harvard filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security in May, alleging that the administration’s actions constituted unlawful retaliation for Harvard’s refusal to comply with White House demands to overhaul university policies regarding campus protests, admissions, hiring practices, and other matters. The university maintains that it complied with requests for records related to any dangerous or illegal activity by foreign students, but the administration deemed the response insufficient.
Prior to the Friday injunction, a temporary restraining order had already been in place, halting the government’s action. President Trump subsequently issued a proclamation attempting to bar foreign students from entering the U.S. to attend Harvard, but this was also temporarily blocked by the court. The Friday order does not address this separate proclamation. The judge clarified that the federal government retains authority to review Harvard’s ability to host international students through standard legal processes.
The Trump administration’s actions have caused significant uncertainty and concern among current and prospective international students. Harvard reported that countless international students inquired about transferring institutions. One prospective graduate student, identified only as Huang, detailed how her original doctoral offer was rescinded elsewhere due to federal funding cuts, leading her to accept a scholarship at Harvard. She remains awaiting a visa interview response despite court orders.
The conflict between Harvard and the Trump administration stems from a broader disagreement over alleged antisemitism, racial discrimination, and political bias at the university. The administration has taken several actions against Harvard, including cutting over $2.6 billion in research grants, terminating federal contracts, and threatening to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status. Harvard President Alan Garber previously stated that the university has implemented changes to address antisemitism but will not compromise its legally protected principles.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump announced that the administration has been in negotiations with Harvard to address “largescale improprieties” and that a potential “mindbogglingly HISTORIC” deal could be reached within a week. However, there has been no public acknowledgment of these negotiations from Harvard or other relevant government bodies. The relationship between these ongoing negotiations and the legal challenges remains unclear.
The Trump administration is expected to appeal the Friday injunction. Legal experts suggest that the outcome of the appeal, potentially involving the First Circuit or Supreme Court, could significantly influence the final resolution of the case. The uncertainty surrounding student visas may also lead some students to pursue studies elsewhere, regardless of the court’s ultimate decision.
In summary, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict Harvard’s ability to host international students. The case is ongoing, with the possibility of an appeal and ongoing negotiations between Harvard and the administration. The situation continues to present significant uncertainty for current and prospective international students at Harvard.
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