U.S. authorities have no power to prevent Harvard University from enrolling international students.
In Boston, a federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration's plan to prohibit new international students from enrolling at Harvard University. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs announced on Thursday that she would maintain an existing order, disregarding the U.S. government's suggestion that it would grant Harvard 30 days to respond to its allegations and asserting that a comprehensive preliminary injunction was needed to safeguard Harvard and its students during the trial.
The Trump administration has imposed accusations on Harvard, including promoting anti-Semitism on campus, collusion with the Chinese Communist Party, and bias towards conservative ideologies. The administration has specifically criticized pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Harvard's legal representatives counter that the administration's actions amount to an attack on academic freedom, claiming that the administration is retaliating due to Harvard's refusal to let the government direct its leadership, curriculum, and faculty and student ideologies.
Harvard's lawyers contend that implementing the ban now would violate due process procedures under the U.S. Constitution, and that the university is entitled to at least 30 days to challenge the government's claims in accordance with regulations. As the oldest and wealthiest university in the U.S., Harvard is a significant institution.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security informed Harvard that it would revoke the university's certification to enroll international students, a move that would also compel current students to transfer to other educational institutions or risk losing their legal status. Harvard estimates that these actions would impact about a quarter of its student body.
The Trump administration is pursuing multiple strategies to criticize Harvard, from freezing millions of dollars in grants and other funding, to considering revoking the university's tax-exempt status, and launching an investigation into whether Harvard discriminates against certain employee or applicant groups. The attack is part of the government's broader effort to exert pressure on U.S. educational institutions to align with Trump's political agenda.
On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed the government's intentions to "aggressively" revoke visas for Chinese students. Over 275,000 Chinese students are enrolled in U.S. universities, serving as a substantial source of income for these institutions and an essential talent pool for U.S. technology companies.
(Reporting by Nate Raymond and Jonathan Stempel; Writing by Ralf Bode; Editing by Paul Simao; Contact our newsroom for further information at [email protected])
International students at Harvard may experience visa-related complications as a result of the ongoing dispute. The U.S. government attempted to revoke Harvard's authority to sponsor F and J visas for international students and scholars for the 2025-26 academic year. However, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, preventing the implementation of this ban, allowing the temporary reinstatement of Harvard's international student and scholar programs. Despite this order, ongoing legal uncertainty persists, as a hearing to determine whether it will be extended or vacated is scheduled, potentially impacting thousands of students and scholars.
- The ongoing dispute between Harvard University and the Trump administration extends to the realm of education-and-self-development and politics, as the administration's actions towards Harvard are seen as a potential attack on academic freedom and a means to exert political control.
- General-news outlets have reported on the potential consequences of this dispute on crime-and-justice, specifically regarding international students at Harvard, who may face visa-related complications due to the ongoing legal uncertainties and potential revocation of visa sponsorship.
