A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to strip Harvard University of its ability to enrol international students, following a lawsuit that marks a major escalation in tensions between the White House and the Ivy League institution.
Harvard quickly filed a lawsuit, accusing the administration of violating both federal law and the university's constitutional rights. The university argued that the action amounted to retaliation for its refusal to “surrender academic independence” and accused the government of trying to exert illegal control over its curriculum, faculty, and student body.
"With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body," the university wrote in its lawsuit. International students account for more than 27% of current enrolments—around 6,800 individuals.
In a letter to the Harvard community, interim President Alan Garber condemned the federal move as “unlawful and unwarranted.” He described it as part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration targeting elite institutions that refuse to conform to its political agenda.
The White House has defended its actions by accusing Harvard of failing to adequately address antisemitism and calling for reforms in admissions and hiring. "If only Harvard cared this much about ending the scourge of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators on their campus," said White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson. “They wouldn’t be in this situation to begin with.”
The administration has also threatened to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status and, in April, froze $2.2 billion in federal funding to the university. That prompted an earlier legal challenge from Harvard, which remains ongoing.
Harvard is not alone. The Trump administration has launched investigations into dozens of universities nationwide, including Columbia University, pressuring them to clamp down on pro-Palestinian activism and alleged bias against conservative voices.
Although Harvard has made some concessions—including the dismissal of senior staff at its Center for Middle Eastern Studies—the latest court case signals a new phase in the university’s resistance. In its legal fight, Harvard has enlisted prominent Republican attorneys, including Robert Hur, the former special counsel who investigated President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents.
Foreign students at Harvard say they are now caught in the political crossfire. "I had almost forgotten about the earlier threat of a ban, and then Thursday’s announcement suddenly came," said Kat Xie, a Chinese STEM student entering her second year. “I'm in shock.”
Many international students pay full tuition and are ineligible for U.S. financial aid. At Harvard Law School, for instance, tuition alone tops $80,000 a year, with total annual expenses reaching about $120,000. Their presence is a major financial pillar for the university.
With the temporary restraining order in place, Harvard’s foreign students will remain enrolled for now, but further legal battles loom as the university prepares for what could be a prolonged courtroom confrontation with the federal government.
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