A federal judge intensified scrutiny of executives managing immigration issues on Friday, preventing the Trump administration from indefinitely revoking Harvard’s ability to register foreign students.
An interim injunction extending her initial temporary restraining order was granted by Judge Alison Burrows, an appointee of Obama serving in Massachusetts. She issued her first restraining order shortly after the lawsuit was filed.
Burrows is also known for her ruling on the Green decision affecting Harvard’s admissions policy, which the Supreme Court later overturned. Fair enrollment students vs Harvard is a case where a judge addressed Harvard’s lawsuit against the Trump administration, asserting that positive actions were unconstitutional and aimed at releasing $2.2 billion in funds.
Time and again, Burrows appears to advocate for Harvard, even if her judicial decisions challenge her constitutional authority.
In this ruling, she obstructs the Trump administration’s efforts to regulate the influx of foreign students at Harvard, despite the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) having previously identified concerns regarding cooperation with the Chinese Communist Party and rising anti-American sentiment among these students.
In May, DHS revoked Harvard’s certification for the Student and Exchange Visitors Program (SEVP) for various reasons. Secretary Christy Noem remarked, “This illustrates that registering international students is a privilege, not a right, allowing universities to benefit from higher tuition fees.”
Burrows has effectively “blocked” the Trump administration from the SEVP, preventing any “implementation, establishment, maintenance, or effect on the SEVP,” and ordered immediate guidance to defendant officers, staff, employees, and contractors to disregard the notification of cancellation set for 2025.
She nullified all cancellations, thereby obstructing both current and prospective international students’ ability to enroll at Harvard without providing any justification.
Foreign students comprise about 27% of Harvard’s student body, totaling 6,793 students for the 2024-2025 academic year.
The Trump administration sought to facilitate reforms in Harvard’s review and admission process; however, the institution declined in April. A statement indicated it intends to “uphold independence,” apart from the influence of entities like the CCP.
Breccan F. Thies is a correspondent for Federalist. He has previously reported on educational and cultural topics for the Washington Examiner and Breitbart News. Thies holds a degree from the University of Virginia and is a 2022 Claremont Institute Publicus Fellow. You can follow him on X at @breccanfthies.
Source: thefederalist.com