Judge Blocks Trump Move to Bar Foreign Students at Harvard

A judge has stopped the Trump administration from blocking Harvard from enrolling foreign students.

Harvard had sued the government. The school said the move broke the law and hurt free speech.

The Trump administration claimed Harvard failed to fight antisemitism and unfair hiring. Harvard denied these claims.

On Friday, Judge Allison Burroughs gave a temporary order to stop the government’s action.

This order pauses a move made by the Department of Homeland Security. That move would have removed Harvard from a system that manages student visas.

A new court hearing will happen on May 29 in Boston.

Harvard said in court that the government was trying to push out its international students. About one-fourth of Harvard’s students come from other countries.

Harvard’s president, Alan Garber, said this act was illegal and meant to punish the school. He said the government was trying to take control of the school’s decisions.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson replied by saying Harvard should focus more on stopping anti-American and antisemitic views on campus.

After the judge’s order, she said the court was showing a “liberal agenda.” She said unelected judges should not block immigration policies.

Harvard was quiet on Friday. Classes were over, and students were getting ready for graduation.

But many foreign students were scared. They didn’t know if they could stay in the U.S.

Cormac Savage, from Northern Ireland, is about to graduate. He is taking a job in Brussels because of the uncertainty.

He said students don’t know if they can come back or stay to work in the U.S.

Another student, Rohan Battula from the UK, chose to stay on campus instead of going home. He feared he might not be allowed back.

He felt some relief after the court order but said the stress was still hard.

“It’s strange to feel like you might be breaking the law just for going to college here,” he said.

Harvard has about 6,800 foreign students. That’s over 27% of its student body.

Many come from China, Canada, India, South Korea, and the UK. Even Belgium’s future queen is a student there.

Leo Ackerman was supposed to start at Harvard in August. Now, he’s not sure if he can go.

He said, “It feels really sad. I hope I still get to go.”

Harvard could also lose money. Many foreign students pay full tuition. That money helps pay for aid to U.S. students.

One year at Harvard can cost over $100,000 without aid.

Isaac Bangura, from Sierra Leone, came to Harvard with his wife and two daughters. He had lived through a war.

His kids asked, “Are they sending us home again?” He said he must stay strong and hopes for a solution.

The fight is not just about Harvard. The Trump administration has targeted other top schools too.

They say these schools allow hate speech and block conservative views.

In April, the White House froze $2.2 billion in funds to Harvard. Trump also talked about ending Harvard’s tax-free status.

That earlier funding freeze led to another lawsuit by Harvard.

Law expert Carl Tobias said courts in Massachusetts often rule against the Trump team. But the U.S. Supreme Court may decide in the end.

Tobias said Harvard has the money and will to keep fighting.

Harvard has made some changes. It removed leaders of a center accused of ignoring Israeli views.

The school also hired top Republican lawyers, including Robert Hur. He had once investigated President Biden.

Some foreign students worry they may be forced to leave or transfer schools.

They need to stay in the government’s visa system. If not, they could be deported.

British students at Harvard, who asked not to be named, said they were shocked and upset.

One said, “We feel like pawns in a political game.”