A federal judge in the United States has temporarily halted President Donald Trump’s efforts to prevent Harvard University from enrolling foreign students. This decision comes as part of the prestigious university’s ongoing challenge against several government sanctions. The ruling, issued by District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston, allows Harvard to continue hosting international students while the lawsuit filed by the university is adjudicated in court.
Judge Burroughs acknowledged that the federal government still retains the authority to scrutinize Harvard’s foreign admission policies through established legal processes. Harvard has been at the center of a contentious debate regarding academic freedom and the right to protest, particularly concerning the ongoing situation in Gaza and the university’s investments tied to Israel.
Trump and his allies contend that Harvard, along with other US universities experiencing similar protests, are bastions of liberal, anti-conservative, and “anti-Semitic” sentiments. In May, Harvard took legal action against the Department of Homeland Security after the agency unexpectedly revoked its certification to enroll international students and process their visa paperwork, bypassing standard procedures. Such an action would have necessitated Harvard’s 7,000 international students, which constitute about a quarter of the university’s enrollment and a significant source of revenue, to either transfer or remain in the US without the necessary documentation. New foreign students would have also been prohibited from attending Harvard.
The university cited these actions as unlawful retaliation for its refusal to alter its policies regarding campus protests, admissions, and employment in response to White House demands. Trump, who has sought to cut federal grants for Harvard and has repeatedly attempted to restrict the institution from enrolling international students, claimed that his administration is in discussions with Harvard. He posted on Truth Social that the potential deal being negotiated could be “mindbogglingly” historic and beneficial for the country, though he provided no specific details about the proposed agreement.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/21/us-judge-blocks-trumps-bid-to-ban-harvard-from-enrolling-foreign-students?traffic_source=rss
