- By Ajeet Kumar
- Fri, 23 May 2025 09:36 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a major blow to the Trump administration, a US judge on Friday blocked the government from revoking Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students, a move that ratcheted up White House efforts to conform practices in academia to President Donald Trump's policies. In a complaint filed in Boston federal court filed earlier on Friday, Harvard called the revocation a "blatant violation" of the US Constitution and other federal laws, and had an "immediate and devastating effect" on the university and more than 7,000 visa holders.
"With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission," Harvard said. "Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard," the 389-year-old school added. US District Judge Allison Burroughs, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, issued the temporary restraining order freezing the policy.
READ: Trump's Harvard Visa Ban: 788 Indian Students At Risk Of Expulsion, What's Next For Them? Know Here
Why Trump administration targetting Harvard
Trump's pressure on Harvard is part of the Republican's broader campaign to compel universities, law firms, news media, courts and other institutions that value independence from partisan politics to align with his agenda. The campaign has included efforts to deport foreign students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests but committed no crimes, retaliate against law firms that employ lawyers who have challenged Trump, and a suggestion by Trump to impeach a judge for an immigration ruling the president didn't like.
Harvard, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has pushed back hard against Trump, having previously sued to restore some USD 3 billion in federal grants that had been frozen or cancelled.
Harvard foreign students
Harvard enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in its current school year, equal to 27 per cent of total enrollment. In its complaint, Harvard said the revocation would force it to retract admissions for thousands of people, and has thrown "countless" academic programs, clinics, courses and research laboratories into disarray, just a few days before graduation. Harvard called the revocation "unlawful many times over," saying the government violates the First Amendment by using coercion to police private speech and forcing universities to surrender their academic freedom.
(With inputs from agency)
