Judge blocks Trump administration’s ban on Harvard foreign students

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
Today 08:34

The Trump administration’s move has been suspended following a lawsuit that claims unconstitutional retaliation.

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Visitors stop at the statue of John Harvard in Harvard Yard at Harvard University, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass (AP)

A federal judge on Friday suspended the Trump administration’s attempt to block Harvard University from enrolling and hosting foreign students, following a lawsuit filed by the institution that challenged the move as unconstitutional.

The decision came one day after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), halting its ability to enroll foreign nationals and raising serious concerns about the future of thousands of students and the university’s financial stability.

Noem had said Thursday that "this administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, anti-Semitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus."

In response, Harvard, which has produced 162 Nobel Prize winners, filed a federal lawsuit in Massachusetts, arguing that the action was an unlawful retaliation. US District Judge Allison Burroughs granted an injunction blocking the decision, stating, “The Trump administration is hereby enjoined from implementing... the revocation of Plaintiff’s SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certification.”

A court hearing on the matter is scheduled for May 29.

Harvard lawsuit accuses US government of retaliation

Harvard accused the Trump administration of targeting the university due to its refusal to comply with federal oversight regarding admissions and hiring. The lawsuit stated that the government acted in retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights.

“It is the latest act by the government in clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the government’s demands to control Harvard’s governance, curriculum, and the ‘ideology’ of its faculty and students,” the filing read.

The Trump administration has escalated tensions by threatening to review $9 billion in government funding for Harvard. Already, it has frozen $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in official contracts. A Harvard Medical School researcher is also facing potential deportation.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Harvard of harboring what he calls “woke” liberal ideology and of failing to address what he labeled a culture of anti-Semitism. His administration’s actions come amid these allegations and a broader campaign against academic institutions seen as resistant to its policies.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller criticized the judge’s ruling, claiming, “A communist judge has created a constitutional right for foreign nationals... to be admitted to American universities funded by American tax dollars.”

Harvard president condemns 'unlawful and unwarranted' action

Ahead of the ruling, Harvard President Alan Garber issued a strong statement denouncing the administration’s action.

“We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action,” Garber said. "It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams."

Chinese government reacts strongly

The revocation particularly affects Chinese nationals, who represent over 20% of Harvard’s international student body. The Chinese government reacted strongly, warning that such moves would harm the US’ global image.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, “The Chinese side has consistently opposed the politicization of educational cooperation."

Hearing set for May 29

The judge’s suspension of the SEVP revocation remains in effect pending further court proceedings, with the next hearing scheduled for May 29. The outcome could have significant implications not only for Harvard but also for international students across the United States.

Meanwhile, Harvard continues to challenge multiple punitive actions from Washington, maintaining that they constitute a broader attempt to silence academic independence.

Leaders of the Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors described the administration’s moves as “the latest in a string of nakedly authoritarian and retaliatory moves against America’s oldest institution of higher education.”