Judge in U.S. halts Trump's intended Harvard measures
Harvard Wins Temporary Reprieve in Lawsuit Over International Students
Washington - A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction, halting the US government's plan to exclude international students from Harvard University. The ruling comes just hours after the Ivy League institution filed a lawsuit challenging the government's order.
Judge Allison D. Burroughs determined that Harvard had demonstrated the government's order would cause "immediate and irreparable harm" to the university. The decision, however, is not a final ruling in the ongoing legal battle.
The Trump administration's action was based on concerns over pro-Palestinian protests on US campuses, with universities like Harvard accused of not doing enough to address these protests and tolerating anti-Semitic incidents. Harvard, in turn, argues that the administration is trying to pressure the university with an illegal retaliatory measure.
The preliminary injunction prevents the government from barring Harvard from continuing to admit international students through a specific federal program. The university's lawsuit claims that such a move would affect more than 7,000 students and their families, making them pawns in the government's escalating retaliation campaign.
Germany, with a significant number of students enrolled at Harvard, is reportedly engaged in talks with the US to discuss the potential impact of the planned exclusion of international students on German students. The exact number of German students at Harvard remains undisclosed.
Recent policy changes at Harvard allow international students to accept admission to both Harvard and another non-American institution, reflecting the challenges international students face due to evolving U.S. policies. The Department of Homeland Security has threatened to revoke Harvard's eligibility to sponsor international students, while visa revocations and reinstatements have been a contentious issue. International students also face difficulties in securing visas and the possibility of deferring acceptance if they cannot obtain a visa before the next academic year. Federal agencies have also requested that Harvard screen international applicants deemed "hostile to American values and institutions" during the admissions process.
In light of the preliminary injunction, Harvard can continue providing educational and self-development services to international students, ensuring they are not disadvantaged by the temporary withholding of the US government's plan. The pending legal battle, however, underscores the continued service challenges international students might face due to evolving US policies and potential retaliatory measures.
