US judge blocks Trump plan to bar international students from Harvard
A federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration from implementing a plan to bar foreign nationals from entering the United States to study at Harvard University.
US District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston issued a preliminary injunction preventing the administration from enforcing a presidential proclamation signed by Donald Trump on June 4. The order marks a significant legal victory for Harvard, which has been locked in an escalating battle with the Trump administration over academic freedom and international students.
The proclamation, citing national security concerns, sought to prohibit foreign nationals from studying at Harvard or participating in its exchange visitor programmes for at least six months. It also directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Senator Marco Rubio to consider revoking visas of international students already enrolled at the university.
Harvard responded with two lawsuits. One seeks to unfreeze approximately $2.5 billion in federal funding that the administration had frozen earlier this year. The second challenges the attempt to block international students from attending the university.
Judge Burroughs had previously issued a temporary restraining order on June 5, and her ruling on Monday formalised that protection. 'This injunction preserves the status quo while the court considers the constitutional and legal questions at stake,' she said during a hearing last month.
The university alleges that Trump's actions constitute political retaliation for its refusal to comply with White House demands related to governance, curriculum, and faculty ideology. Harvard argues that these actions violate its First Amendment right to free speech.
The dispute intensified after Homeland Security, under Noem's direction, revoked Harvard's student and exchange visitor certification on May 22, accusing the school of 'fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.' Noem provided no evidence to support her claims. Judge Burroughs quickly blocked that move and criticised the lack of due process.
Trump, speaking last Friday, said his administration could reach a deal with Harvard 'over the next week or so,' suggesting ongoing negotiations behind the scenes.
The administration's crackdown on Harvard comes amid broader tensions on US campuses over the Gaza war. Harvard, like other institutions, has been rocked by protests related to Israel's military actions, with the White House accusing it of tolerating antisemitism. Rights advocates, however, point out that rising Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiment have gone largely unaddressed.
In late April, Harvard's own antisemitism and Islamophobia task forces found significant levels of fear and discrimination on campus, the Reuters reported.
Nearly 6,800 international students attended Harvard in the last academic year, making up about 27 per cent of its student body.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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