US court blocks Trump administration’s move against Harvard’s international students

AhlulBayt News Agency: A U.S. district court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to prevent Harvard University from admitting international students under a federal visa program.

The court’s decision marks a significant setback for the administration’s efforts to impose tighter controls on elite universities’ admission of foreign students. This issue could have lasting implications for academic freedom, immigration policy, and U.S. global competitiveness in education.

Harvard University President Alan Garber stated on Friday that the administration’s actions are an act of "retaliation" against Harvard for refusing to compromise its academic independence. He emphasized that the university "will do everything in its power" to support international students and scholars during this legal challenge.

On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it would prevent international students from enrolling at Harvard. The department accused the university of fostering violence and antisemitism on campus and warned that existing international students must transfer to other institutions or risk losing their legal status in the United States.

Harvard responded by filing a lawsuit and requesting a temporary restraining order, calling the government’s move “unlawful and retaliatory.” A federal judge granted the order on Friday, stating that the university would suffer “immediate and irreparable injury” if the policy went into effect before a full hearing.

This ruling highlights ongoing tensions between elite universities and the Trump administration over academic freedom, immigration enforcement, and free speech on campus. Harvard, among other institutions, has increasingly found itself at the center of legal and political clashes, particularly concerning policies affecting international students and federal funding.

While the court’s decision offers temporary relief, it signals the beginning of a prolonged legal battle that could shape higher education policy for years to come.

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