Harvard given 30 Days’ Time to Reply to Notice Barring Enrolling Foreign Students
NEW DELHI, May 29: US District Judge Allison Burroughs extended an order blocking the Trump administration from barring Harvard University from enrolling foreign students. It had already been paused last since last week when the judge had issued a temporary restraining order.
After the Department of Homeland Security’s Secretary Kristi Noem sent a letter to Harvard to comply with the administration’s requirements, or it would revoke its ability to enrol foreign students, Harvard sued the DHS.
The Donald Trump administration has given Harvard University 30 days to reply to the notice barring the Ivy League institution from enrolling foreign students. The administration signalled on Thursday that it may walk back on its plan to immediately revoke Harvard University’s ability to enrol foreign students, following the backlash.
In a court filing, the Department of Homeland Security issued a formal notice of intent to Harvard on Wednesday to withdraw the university’s certification under the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows Harvard to enroll non-US students.
The notice came after Harvard filed a petition over the Trump administration’s decision to decertify the institute from SEVP. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Boston, claiming the move is an unconstitutional retaliation for defying the White House’s political demands.
Harvard’s lawyers said the University’s certification was removed abruptly without any compliance of federal regulations that requires the department to give a legitimate reason for its actions and an advance notice. Moreover it also gives an opportunity to address any issues.
The federal court hearing on Friday will decide whether a temporary block on the Trump administration’s earlier revocation order should be extended.
The revocation announced on May 22 was an escalation of the Trump administration’s attack on Harvard. Earlier today, the President said that Harvard University should cap its foreign student enrollment at a maximum of 15% and be compelled to provide the government with a comprehensive list of all international students currently enrolled.
Harvard is at the centre of a growing political and legal battle with the White House. While other universities risk losing federal funding and the ability to enroll international students unless they meet shifting government demands, Harvard is actively fighting back in court—and paying a steep price for it.
It has become a primary target for the Donald Trump administration amid its ongoing campaign against elite academic institutions. The White House has frozen over $2.6 billion in federal research funding earmarked for the university, seeking to enforce compliance with a series of demands aimed at reshaping the institution’s policies and operations.
Key among these demands is a push for greater governmental control over the university’s curriculum. Donald Trump’s team is now actively working to cancel all remaining federal contracts with the university, further intensifying the financial squeeze on the Ivy League institution, it was earlier reported.
(Manas Dasgupta)
