A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s controversial attempt to strip Harvard University of its ability to host international students. The decision offers a lifeline to thousands of non-U.S. students enrolled at the Ivy League institution.
The legal battle began after Harvard filed a lawsuit just one day following the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) declaration that it would revoke the university’s certification to enroll international students. Harvard’s legal filing condemned the move as a direct violation of the First Amendment, calling it retaliation for resisting federal interference in its internal governance, academic programs, and ideological independence.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order, effectively pausing the action and protecting the immigration status of the nearly 7,000 international students—representing 27% of Harvard’s student body.
Before the court’s intervention, DHS had warned that current international students would need to transfer to other institutions to remain legally in the country. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defended the move, accusing Harvard of promoting antisemitism and collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party—claims Harvard officials deny.
In a campus-wide letter, Harvard President Alan Garber criticized the administration’s actions as “unlawful and unwarranted,” stating they jeopardize not just Harvard’s global scholars but also the broader reputation of American higher education.
Education experts, like Shaun Carver from UC Berkeley’s International House, warn that such government actions may deter future applicants. “It sends a chilling message to international students: the U.S. may no longer be a stable or welcoming place to study,” Carver noted.
International students are a vital economic force, contributing nearly $44 billion to the U.S. economy in the last academic year alone. With over 1.1 million international students in American universities during 2023–2024, this legal standoff has far-reaching implications for academia and the U.S. economy.