A federal judge on June 5 blocked President Donald Trump’s proclamation suspending foreign student visas at Harvard University.
The order by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs was issued hours after Harvard filed a legal claim to challenge Trump’s new directive one day earlier.
The amended complaint is the latest development in Harvard’s battle with the government after Trump earlier this year revoked the university’s federal funding over allegations of on-campus anti-Semitism and a continuation of the school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday night that directs the State Department to suspend international visas for new students at Harvard University. The action would prevent any new Harvard students from entering the United States as nonimmigrants under student (F), vocational (M), and exchange visitor (J) visas.
In May, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a directive to revoke Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which allows the institution to enroll foreign students. When announcing the directive, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem alleged that Harvard fosters ties with the Chinese Communist Party.
U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs last week said she would continue blocking the agency from revoking Harvard’s certification, and ordered the Trump administration to hold off indefinitely from making any changes to the college’s international student visa program.
In the Thursday court filing, Harvard accused the administration of trying to circumvent Burroughs’ order that halted the Homeland Security Department from revoking Harvard’s SEVP certification.
“No credible or rational justification exists for singling out Harvard in this way,” the filing states. “The Proclamation is a transparent attempt to circumvent the temporary restraining order this Court already entered against the summary revocation of Harvard’s SEVP certification.”
The college also accused the Homeland Security Department of violating its right to due process by failing to provide adequate notice before moving to revoke its certification.
“Defendants’ actions deprive Harvard of its constitutionally protected property interest in continued certification; prevent Harvard from continuing its robust F-1 visa program, which has long inured to the benefit of the broader Harvard community; damage Harvard’s reputation as a global research institution; and disrupt years of careful institutional planning and resource allocation with respect to its F-1 program,” the filing continues.
Harvard President Alan M. Garber issued a statement shortly after the school submitted the court filing.
“Singling out our institution for its enrollment of international students and its collaboration with other educational institutions around the world is yet another illegal step taken by the Administration to retaliate against Harvard,” he said.
Garber added that the Harvard International Office will begin reaching out to students and scholars who might be affected by Trump’s Wednesday proclamation.
Share your thoughts by scrolling down to leave a comment.
