Trump's attempt to exclude foreign students from Harvard blocked
A federal judge halts Donald Trump's attempt to expel international students from Harvard and extends judicial protection.
A federal judge has dealt another blow to the Trump administration by extending a temporary restraining order protecting Harvard University from further legal maneuvers by the government to exclude international students and faculty.
Boston-based U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs expanded the order she had issued last week, blocking the government's efforts to revoke Harvard's participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. This decision follows the injunction Burroughs had issued following a presidential proclamation banning the entry of new international students on F-1 and J-1 visas.
More than 5,000 international students and scholars at Harvard faced losing their legal status after the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, issued a letter notifying the university of the revocation of Harvard's certification in the program. The announcement sparked alarm and confusion on college campuses, prompting a swift legal response from the university.
Harvard argued in its lawsuit that the government's actions violated the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act. It also called the legal action a form of retaliation for not aligning itself with the White House's demands. Interim President Alan Garber stated that the university will continue to defend itself: "We will continue to take steps to protect the rights of our international students and scholars; their presence here benefits our country immensely."
The future of thousands of international students at Harvard remains at stake.
Judge Burroughs, nominated to the bench by former President Barack Obama, held that the institution would suffer "immediate and irreparable harm" if timely intervention is not undertaken. Therefore, the injunction will remain in effect "until further order of the Court."
A hearing is expected in mid-June, where a decision will be made on whether to permanently block the measures imposed by the Trump administration.
The background to this legal case is Donald Trump's attempt to reduce the presence of foreign students at American universities. Twenty-five percent of Harvard University's students are foreigners with significant research experience at the institution.
In a statement released by the University, the ruling was greeted with relief and celebration across campus. “International students are part of what makes Harvard one of the finest universities in the world,” said Kevin Pacheco, an instructor at the School of Medicine. Caleb Thompson, co-president of the Undergraduate Student Association, added: “Harvard wouldn’t be Harvard without international students… They are some of the most talented and intellectually capable on our campus.”
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