In a dramatic turn of events, a federal judge has temporarily blocked a move by the Trump administration to stop Harvard University from enrolling international students, reported by BBC News. This decision follows a lawsuit filed by Harvard, accusing the government of overstepping its authority and threatening academic freedom.
The Department of Homeland Security had tried to revoke Harvard’s access to a federal system that tracks foreign students, known as the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. If carried out, the move would have affected more than 6,800 international students — nearly 28% of Harvard’s student body.
US District Judge Allison Burroughs quickly responded with a restraining order, putting the administration’s plan on hold while the case is considered in court.
Harvard argues the government’s action is not only unlawful but also a direct attack on the university’s independence. In a strong statement, Harvard President Alan Garber said the administration’s actions are part of a pattern of “retaliation” against the school for resisting political pressure to change its hiring, admissions, and academic programs.
“This is an effort to erase a vital part of our community — students from around the globe who enrich our classrooms and research,” Harvard stated in its lawsuit.
The White House, however, insists the university hasn’t done enough to address antisemitism and claims the school allows anti-American views to flourish. “If only Harvard cared this much about protecting students from hate speech,” said White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson.
Harvard’s legal team now includes top Republican lawyers, showing the seriousness of the fight. The university is also challenging an earlier freeze of $2.2 billion in federal funds and a threat to remove its tax-exempt status.
For students like Kat Xie, a Chinese national studying science, the news is deeply unsettling. “I’m still in shock,” she said. “We’re caught in the middle of something much bigger than us.”
The legal battle is far from over, but for now, Harvard’s international students have a temporary shield — and hope.
