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.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to make the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory have been mocked by Iran's Deputy Foreign Ministe...
The United Nations has urged sustained international engagement with Afghanistan five years into Taliban rule, warning that restrictions on women a...
Iran says the U.S. war and military presence in the region have worsened marine pollution around the Strait of Hormuz, calling for environmental pr...
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled or rerouted at Catania Airport over the past week as ash from Mount Etna’s ongoing eruption continues to disrupt air travel in Sicily.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
The U.S. will impose unprecedented measures on Iran in order to economically isolate the country, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said.
One person has been killed and six others injured after an explosion at a petroleum storage facility at the Port of Rotterdam, prompting an investigation into the cause.
Jason Arday, the former University of Cambridge professor at the centre of a plagiarism row, has been found dead. He was appointed Cambridge's youngest ever Black professor in 2023, but quit on 5 August, after being accused of lifting passages from his PhD from the work of other academics.
Wildfires across England and Wales have reached their highest level on record, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council, as firefighters struggle to contain outbreaks following a spell of extreme heat.
A federal court has allowed the Trump administration to move forward with ending temporary immigration protections for Somali nationals living in the United States, a decision that could leave more than 1,000 people vulnerable to deportation.
Iran and Afghanistan are seeking closer cooperation in agriculture, livestock and irrigation during a three-day Iranian ministerial visit to Kabul, as both sides look to strengthen trade and rural economies.
A ransom payment estimated at $50 million for the release of a hostage held by al Qaeda-linked militants in Mali has significantly strengthened the group's operations across West Africa and provided funding to other branches of the global extremist network, according to a United Nations report.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment