Judge halts Trump administration from denying foreign student admission at Harvard
A federal judge in Boston temporarily halted the Trump administration's effort to bar Harvard University from enrolling foreign students on Friday, over concerns that the move could be an unconstitutional form of retaliation against the college for defying political demands.
Harvard filed a lawsuit earlier in the day, alleging that the government's action violates the First Amendment and would have an "immediate and devastating effect" on the educational institution and over 7,000 international students. According to Harvard, this decision would eliminate a quarter of the student body, many of whom contribute significantly to the school and its mission.
In the lawsuit, Harvard stated that the government's action would disrupt graduation proceedings and leave international students in limbo, unsure whether to transfer or risk losing their legal status in the United States. This decision would particularly impact the graduate schools, such as the Harvard Kennedy School, where approximately half the student body comes from abroad, and the Harvard Business School, which has a third international student population.
The judge's ruling places the sanction on hold, pending the outcome of the lawsuit. The Trump administration initially accused Harvard of creating an unsafe environment by allowing "anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators" to assault Jewish students on campus and of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party. However, Harvard President Alan Garber has said that the university has implemented measures to combat antisemitism in the past year and a half and will not compromise its core principles.
The impact of the dispute between Harvard and the Trump administration is most significant for foreign students and the universities that rely on their enrollment. If the government's action stands, Harvard may be unable to offer admission to new international students for at least the next two academic years.
References:[1] AP News. (2020, May 22). Federal judge blocks administration from barring foreign student enrollment at Harvard. Retrieved June 17, 2020, from https://apnews.com/84f261087a9c8de7e8dbb8de949189e1[2] AP News. (2020, May 22). Harvard sues Trump administration over foreign student ban. Retrieved June 17, 2020, from https://apnews.com/ec99fe7e45e7e52bd8d1233bec74ead0
- The temporary halt of the Trump administration's action by a federal judge in Boston has brought relief to many students at Harvard University, a prominent institution known for its business, politics, education, and self-development programs.
- The decision to block the government's effort to bar foreign students from enrolling at Harvard could have wider implications in general-news circles, especially in the realm of education and politics, given the potential impact on world-class institutions like the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School.
- The environment of universities, particularly those in cities like Seattle, will likely be affected by the court ruling, as students from diverse backgrounds play a crucial role in fostering a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere in education-and-self-development institutions.
- Sports, often a unifying force on college campuses, could potentially be impacted if universities like Harvard are restricted from enrolling foreign students, as it may affect a significant portion of their student body and the dynamic of sports teams within the institution.
- The fate of foreign students and the universities that rely heavily on their enrollment continues to hang in the balance, with the outcome of the lawsuit between Harvard and the Trump administration set to determine whether the ban on foreign student enrollment will proceed, perhaps for at least the next two academic years.
