In a dramatic legal standoff between one of America’s most prestigious universities and the Trump administration, a federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order halting a controversial move to revoke Harvard University’s right to enroll international students.
The Department of Homeland Security’s decision, announced Thursday, would have stripped Harvard of access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)—a critical database managing foreign students’ academic records.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs on Friday temporarily blocks the policy, giving Harvard and its international student body a brief but crucial window of relief.
Harvard filed an immediate lawsuit following the announcement, calling the government’s action a “blatant violation” of U.S. law and academic freedoms.
The university accused the administration of retaliating against its refusal to submit to federal pressure on its curriculum, staffing, and admissions practices.
“With the stroke of a pen, the government tried to erase a quarter of our student body,” Harvard’s legal filing read, referring to the approximately 6,800 international students who comprise over 27% of its enrolment.
Harvard President Alan Garber called the decision “unlawful and unwarranted,” warning of broader implications for academic independence nationwide.
The White House fired back through deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson, accusing Harvard of ignoring antisemitism on campus and housing what she called “pro-terrorist agitators.”
She dismissed the university’s lawsuit as “frivolous” and lambasted the judge’s ruling as a product of a “liberal agenda.”
According to the BBC, critics of the administration’s move argue it could have devastating consequences for global education access and U.S. universities’ economic stability.
Many international students—often paying full tuition—serve as a vital financial pillar for institutions like Harvard. Tuition alone at the university stands at $59,320 for the upcoming academic year, with total costs often exceeding $100,000.
The ruling comes as a lifeline for students like Leo Ackerman, who planned to begin his studies at Harvard in August. “This is a dream for so many of us,” he said. “To have it threatened is heartbreaking, but there’s still hope.”
Among those affected is Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth, one of many international students caught in the legal crossfire.
While Friday’s order halts the administration’s action for now, the battle over foreign students and academic freedom in the U.S. is far from over.
