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Washington: A US judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University’s ability to enrol foreign students, a move that ratcheted up White House efforts to conform practices in academia to President Donald Trump’s policies. In a complaint filed in Boston federal court earlier on Friday, Harvard called the revocation a “blatant violation” of the US Constitution and other federal laws, and had 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 added.
US District Judge Allison Burroughs issued the temporary restraining order freezing the policy. Trump’s pressure on Harvard is part of the Republican’s broader campaign to compel universities, law firms, news media, courts and other institutions that value independence from partisan politics to align with his agenda. The campaign has included efforts to deport foreign students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests but committed no crimes, retaliate against law firms that employ lawyers who have challenged Trump, and a suggestion by Trump to impeach a judge for an immigration ruling the president didn’t like.
Harvard, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has pushed back hard against Trump, having previously sued to restore some $3 billion in federal grants that had been frozen or cancelled. Columbia University agreed to reform disciplinary processes and review curricula for courses on the Middle East, after Trump pulled $400 million in funding..
In a statement before Burroghs’ ruling, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed the lawsuit. “If only Harvard cared this much about ending the scourge of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators on their campus they wouldn’t be in this situation to begin with,” Jackson said. “Harvard should spend their time and resources on creating a safe campus environment instead of filing frivolous lawsuits,” she added.
Harvard enroled nearly 6,800 international students in its current school year, equal to 27% of total enrolment. 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.
