Court Temporarily Halts Trump Administration’s Cancellation of Harvard Student Visa Program Amid Legal Battle

Court Temporarily Halts Trump Administration’s Cancellation of Harvard Student Visa Program Amid Legal Battle

A U.S. District Court has placed a temporary hold on the Trump administration’s initiative to revoke Harvard University’s student visa program. This legal development comes after Harvard filed a lawsuit against the government, prompting a judge to issue a temporary restraining order while the case progresses through the legal system.

Judge Allison Burroughs, an appointee from the Obama administration, scheduled a hearing for 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Boston federal court. Harvard University indicates that the proposed policy affects over 7,000 visa holders, which constitutes nearly a quarter of its student population. The university asserts that the program’s termination represents a serious violation of the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act as stated in their formal complaint.

DHS Action Sparks Legal Controversy

The Department of Homeland Security initiated the move to terminate the visa program after claiming that Harvard failed to provide extensive behavioral records of its student visa holders as requested. Allegedly, DHS gave Harvard 72 hours to comply with this request and to re-engage in the visa program.

As it stands, Harvard may struggle to enroll foreign students for the 2025–2026 academic year. Current foreign students face the risk of losing their legal status to remain in the U.S. unless they transfer to another institution ahead of the upcoming academic year.

University’s Response to Policy Changes

University President Alan Garber stated that Harvard would promptly file a motion for a temporary restraining order, aiming to halt the policy’s implementation while their case is adjudicated. In a statement, Garber emphasized the detrimental impact this policy could impose on thousands of enrolled students.

Harvard’s administration expresses concern that the administration’s actions constitute an infringement upon the university’s autonomy and its ability to govern itself without government interference. The lawsuit illustrates that Harvard views these measures as retaliation against the institution for standing firm against government demands that threaten its governance structure.

Details of the Requested Records

The records that the DHS requested from Harvard encompass a wide array of documentation. This includes footage of protests involving visa-holding students and the disciplinary records of all visa holders for the past five years. Moreover, DHS seeks any records associated with illegal, dangerous, or violent conduct by these students, as well as documentation of any rights violations against other students or university personnel.

Harvard criticized the new policy as being