Harvard University, Boston: U.S. President Donald Trump faced a legal setback over his attempt to restrict foreign student admissions at Harvard University. The case was brought before U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston after Harvard challenged the ban.
President Trump encountered a significant legal blow following his decision to prohibit the enrollment of international students at Harvard University. The matter was reviewed by Judge Allison Burroughs after Harvard filed a petition opposing the move.
On Friday, the Trump administration chose to temporarily pause the enforcement of this policy. Harvard argued that the administration's action breached both constitutional principles and federal regulations. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had introduced the ban on Thursday, with the intention of asserting tighter control over educational institutions and reshaping the landscape of U.S. education.
As a result of the DHS order, students holding F-1 or J-1 visas would have been barred from enrolling due to the cancellation of Harvard's certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The DHS stated that the ban could be reconsidered if Harvard complied with six specific conditions and submitted a report within 72 hours.
If the policy had been enforced, 6,703 foreign students—including 788 from India—enrolled for the 2024–25 academic year would have been compelled to either transfer to another SEVP-certified institution or face removal from the country.
The DHS demanded that Harvard's report cover incidents over the past five years involving foreign students, specifically focusing on behavior, disciplinary actions, protest activities, and campus violence.
