Trump vs Harvard: A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration decision to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. The ruling comes after Harvard filed an emergency lawsuit in the Massachusetts federal court, calling the move a “blatant violation” of constitutional rights.
US District Judge Allison Burroughs granted a temporary restraining order, stopping the Department of Homeland Security’s directive that was set to take effect from the 2025-2026 academic year. The order would have stripped Harvard of its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which is essential for hosting international students on study visas.
Trump accuses Harvard of financial misuse
President Donald Trump defended his administration’s stance, suggesting that elite institutions like Harvard must be held accountable. “We will take a look at a lot of things. Billions of dollars have been paid to Harvard… how ridiculous is that,” Trump said in remarks at the White House. “They have $52 billion as endowment. This country is paying billions and billions of dollars and then gives student loans… Harvard will have to change its ways.”
The move to revoke international student enrolment was seen by critics as part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to reshape elite academia and curb immigration.
VIDEO | US President Donald Trump (@POTUS) on his administration's decision to revoke Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, says, "We will take a look at a lot of things. Billions of dollars have been paid to Harvard…how ridiculous is that. They have… pic.twitter.com/e4vrCxBlvC
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 24, 2025
Harvard fights back, cites harm to academic community
In a strong statement, Harvard President Alan Garber condemned the decision as “unlawful and unwarranted.” He stressed the central role of international students in shaping the university’s academic environment.
“With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body,” the university argued in its complaint. Garber added, “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”
The university maintained that the administration’s action would cause “immediate and irreparable harm,” and accused the government of retaliating against its ideological independence.
This is not the first time Harvard has clashed with the Trump administration. The university previously sued over the freezing of $3 billion in federal research grants. Other Ivy League schools, including Columbia University, have also come under pressure to align with federal demands, including curriculum reviews and funding compliance.