A U.S. federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s efforts to prevent international students from enrolling at Harvard University, delivering a significant legal setback to the administration. This ruling maintains the current enrollment status while a final decision is pending.
Judge Allison Burroughs extended a temporary restraining order last week, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the status quo due to the widespread uncertainty and distress among foreign students. Harvard University's lawyers highlighted concerns affecting thousands of international students, including approximately 800 from India. Many students have reported delays in enrollment and transfers to other institutions amid visa denials and revocations.
The Trump administration had imposed a controversial agenda targeting select universities like Harvard and Columbia, capping foreign student admission at 15% and enforcing stricter visa controls. The Department of Homeland Security recently issued Harvard a 30-day notice to contest the university’s certification that permits enrolling international students, further escalating the dispute.
Judge Burroughs, an Obama appointee, underscored the anxiety felt by students due to these policies. Harvard President Alan Garber, addressing the 2025 graduating class, affirmed the university's commitment to inclusivity by recognizing students from across the globe amidst the ongoing legal battle.
The case has become emblematic of broader tensions between the current administration's political agenda and academic institutions striving to preserve free speech and open access for international students. The administration argues that financially robust institutions like Harvard, which manages a $51 billion endowment, should comply with federal regulations if they benefit from government funding.
As legal proceedings continue, the future of foreign student admissions at Harvard remains uncertain, with the judge’s temporary ruling providing critical relief for those affected.
