WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal judge issued a temporary block late Thursday on the declaration by President Donald Trump, which prohibits foreign students from entering the United States to attend Harvard University.
Trump’s declaration, released on Wednesday, represents the latest effort by his administration to restrict the registration of students at the nation’s oldest and most affluent universities. A quarter of students contribute significantly to Harvard’s research and financial aid programs.
Harvard submitted legal assignments the following day, urging the judge to block Trump’s orders and labeling them as illegal retaliation against the university. White House Rejection. Harvard stated that the president is attempting to enforce a previous court ruling.
Hours later, US District Judge Alison Burrows from Boston issued a temporary restraining order against Trump’s declaration from Wednesday. Before hearing from the involved parties in the lawsuit, Harvard established that it would suffer “immediate and irreparable injuries,” according to Burrows.
Colin Binkley has been covering Harvard University for nearly a decade, most of the time residing half a mile from the campus.
Burrows has also extended the temporary hold on the administration’s earlier attempt to cease the enrollment of international students at Harvard. Last month, the Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard’s accreditation for hosting foreign students and issuing visa documents, but Burrows temporarily blocked this action. Trump’s order this week invoked another legal authority.
If Trump’s measures prevail in this court challenge, they will prevent thousands of students from attending Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during the summer and fall semesters.
“Over 7,000 F-1 and J-1 visa holders at Harvard, along with their dependents, have been caught in the government’s retaliation campaign,” Harvard stated in a court filing on Thursday.
While the trial progresses, Harvard is preparing emergency measures to ensure that students and visitors can continue to work at the university, as stated by President Alan Gerber in a message to the campus community and alumni.
“We are all part of a truly global university community,” Gerber said on Thursday. “The benefits of bringing talented individuals from around the globe together are unique and irreplaceable.”
Harvard attracts some of the brightest minds from all over the world, with international enrollment rising from 11% of the student body three decades ago to 26% today.
Some students are exploring alternative options while awaiting news on whether they can attend the university.
The rise in international enrollment has rendered Harvard and other elite institutions particularly susceptible to Trump’s crackdown on foreign students. Republicans are working to enact reforms at the nation’s top colleges, which they perceive as “woke” and breeding grounds for anti-Semitic views.
Gerber stated that the university made it clear it stands against anti-Semitism. However, even under federal pressure, Harvard will not compromise its “legally protected principles,” he asserted.
The Trump administration has also taken steps to withhold federal funds from Harvard and other prestigious universities that have declined the White House’s requests regarding campus protests, admissions, and employment practices. Harvard’s $53 billion endowment will allow it to weather fund loss for a time, although Gerber warned of forthcoming “difficult decisions and sacrifices.”
Nonetheless, the exclusion of students and visitors could significantly undermine the university’s research capabilities and international reputation.
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Source: apnews.com