Harvard granted temporary reprieve in international student enrollment
A federal judge in Massachusetts has granted a preliminary injunction, allowing Ivy League university Harvard to continue enrolling international students, temporarily halting an ongoing attempt by the Trump administration to ban such admissions.
The injunction, issued by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, denotes a reprieve for the thousands of international students already enrolled at Harvard—comprising over a quarter of the student body—who were facing possible deportation just days before many of their graduations.
Back in April, the Trump administration sought to revoke Harvard's certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), claiming failure to provide essential information about international students, including disciplinary records, as justification. The administration portrayed the enrollment of foreign students as a privilege rather than a right, implying that Harvard had abused this privilege through noncompliance with government demands related to the university's administrative and ideological governance.
Harvard responded by filing a lawsuit, arguing that the administration's actions were unlawful and infringed upon First Amendment, due process, and administrative law rights. Judge Burroughs, in late May, extended a temporary restraining order, granting Harvard 30 days to present evidence contesting the administration's position.
The Trump administration elevated its pressure on Harvard by making threats of withdrawing its tax-exempt status, canceling contracts, and freezing over $2.2 billion in federal grants and $60 million in contracts. In response, Harvard also filed a separate lawsuit challenging the funding freeze, with hearings continuing into the summer.
This preliminary injunction halts the immediate removal of current students and the preventive measures against new students until further legal proceedings are conducted. The injunction represents a significant step in protecting the academic freedom of international students and maintaining the international diversity of enrollment in world-renowned institutions.
The preliminary injunction, allowing Harvard to continue enrolling international students, signifies a crucial step in the education-and-self-development sector, providing temporary relief for thousands of international students facing deportation. This case, marked by the ongoing general news surrounding the Trump administration's attempts to ban such admissions, does not only concern the Ivy League university but also serves to protect the academic freedom and maintain the international diversity in enrollment for world-renowned institutions.
