Boston, USA — In a significant victory for international students, a federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to prevent Harvard University from enrolling students from abroad.
On Friday, Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order, stating that it was justified to maintain the current situation until a formal hearing could be held. “Unless Harvard’s Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order is granted, it will sustain immediate and irreparable injury before there is an opportunity to hear from all parties,” Judge Burroughs wrote in her ruling.
This order stops the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from enforcing its May 22 revocation of Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. It also prevents any actions that would affect the legal status of current international students at the university.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had announced the decision on Thursday, stating, “Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country. Enrolling international students is a privilege – not a right – and that privilege has been revoked due to Harvard’s repeated failure to comply with federal law.” She added that existing international students must transfer or risk losing their legal status.
In response, Harvard University filed a federal lawsuit against the administration for the second time. Harvard President Alan Garber condemned the move in a letter to the university community. “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,” Garber wrote.
He added that the government’s actions were part of a series of efforts 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.”
The clash highlights ongoing tensions between the administration and the prestigious university. Earlier in April, officials demanded that Harvard implement significant governance reforms, addressing issues such as alleged antisemitism on campus and diversity initiatives. After Harvard rejected these demands, the administration announced a freeze on $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in contract value to the university.
International students make up over 27 percent of Harvard’s student body as of the fall 2023 semester. The legal battle not only affects these students but also sends a strong message to academic institutions across the country about the administration’s stance on international education.
The next steps in the case will be crucial for international students and universities nationwide. For now, Judge Burroughs’s order provides temporary relief, allowing students to continue their studies without immediate concern for their legal status.
