By Johnathan Stemple
and Nat Raymond
Reuters
BOSTON, May 23 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students, a policy the Ivy League school called part of President Donald Trump's broader effort to retaliate against it for refusing to "surrender its academic independence."
The order provides temporary relief to thousands of international students who were faced with being forced to transfer under a policy that the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based university called a "blatant violation" of the U.S. Constitution and other federal laws, and said would have an "immediate and devastating effect" on the university and more than 7,000 visa holders.
"Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard," the 389-year-old school said in its lawsuit, filed earlier on Friday in Boston federal court. Harvard enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in its current school year, equal to 27 percent of its total enrollment.
"Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard," the 389-year-old school said in its lawsuit, filed earlier on Friday in Boston federal court. Harvard enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in its current school year, equal to 27 percent of its total enrollment.
The move was the latest escalation in a broader battle between Harvard and the White House, as Trump seeks to compel universities, law firms, news media, courts and other institutions that value independence from partisan politics to align with his agenda. Trump and fellow Republicans have long accused elite universities of left-wing bias.
Harvard has pushed back hard against Trump, having previously sued to restore nearly $3 billion in federal grants that had been frozen or canceled. In recent weeks, the administration has proposed ending Harvard's tax-exempt status and hiking taxes on its enrollment, and opened an investigation into whether it violated civil rights laws.
Harvard has pushed back hard against Trump, having previously sued to restore nearly $3 billion in federal grants that had been frozen or canceled. In recent weeks, the administration has proposed ending Harvard's tax-exempt status and hiking taxes on its enrollment, and opened an investigation into whether it violated civil rights laws.
Leo Gerden, a Swedish student set to graduate Harvard with an undergraduate degree in economics and government this month, called the judge's ruling a "great first step" but said international students were bracing for a long legal fight that would keep them in limbo.
"There is no single decision by Trump or by Harvard or by a judge that is going to put an end to this tyranny of what Trump is doing," Gerden said.
In its complaint, Harvard said the revocation would force it to retract admissions for thousands of people, and has thrown "countless" academic programs, clinics, courses and research laboratories into disarray, just a few days before graduation.
It said the revocation was a punishment for Harvard's "perceived viewpoint," which it called a violation of the right to free speech as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.
To read rest of story, click on link: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/harvard-sues-trump-administration-blocking-enrollment-foreign-students-2025-05-23/
3 comments:
These universities have been indoctrinating youth for decades. They have been following the democratic philosophy of spreading hate. On another note why should the American people be financing any institution with billions in their coffers? Yet you complain about billionaires taking advantage of the poor. This stupid funding could be better used to help the elderly and people with disabilities.
It's only temporary, Monty. Goat fuckers and their sympathizers are not welcome in America.
The constitution was written for Americans not got its haters.
Post a Comment