
Judge temporarily halts Trump block on foreign students at Harvard
A US judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration's decision to revoke Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students. The order provides temporary relief to thousands of international students who were faced with being forced to transfer under a policy that the university called a "blatant violation" of the Constitution.
A US judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students, a policy the Ivy League school called part of PresidentDonald Trump's broader effort to retaliate against it for refusing to "surrender its academicindependence".
The order provides temporary relief to thousands of international students who were faced with being forced to transfer under a policy that the Cambridge, Massachusetts-baseduniversitycalled a "blatant violation" of the US Constitution and other federal laws, and said would have 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 said in its lawsuit filed earlier on Friday in Boston federal court. Harvard enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in its current school year, equal to 27% of total enrollment.
The move was the latest escalation in a broader battle between Harvard and theWhite House, as Trump seeks to compel universities,lawfirms, newsmedia, courts and other institutions that value independence from partisanpoliticsto align with his agenda. Trump and fellow Republicans have long accused elite universities of left-wing bias.
Harvard has pushed back hard against Trump, having previously sued to restore nearly $3 billion in federal grants that had been frozen or canceled. In recent weeks, the administration has proposed ending Harvard's tax-exempt status and hiking taxes on its endowment, and opened aninvestigationinto whether it violatedcivil rightslaws.
Leo Gerden, a Swedish student set to graduate Harvard with an undergraduate degree in economics and government this month, called the judge's ruling a "great first step" but said international students were bracing for a long legal fight that would keep them in limbo.
"There is no single decision by Trump or by Harvard or by a judge that is going to put an end to this tyranny of what Trump is doing," Gerden said.
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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. It said the revocation was a punishment for Harvard's "perceived viewpoint", which it called a violation of the right to free speech as guaranteed by the US Constitution's First Amendment.
The Trump administration may appeal US District Judge Allison Burroughs' ruling. In a statement, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, "unelected judges have no right to stop the Trump Administration from exercising their rightful control over immigration policy and national security policy.
Since Trump's inauguration on January 20, his administration has accused several universities of indifference toward the welfare of Jewish students during widespread campus protests againstIsrael's military campaign in Gaza.
Harvard's court challenges over the administration's policies stand in contrast to its New York-based peer Columbia University's concessions to similar pressure. Columbia agreed to reform disciplinary processes and review curricula for courses on theMiddle East, after Trump pulled $400 million in funding over allegations the Ivy League school had not done enough to combat antisemitism.
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In announcing on Thursday the termination of Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, effective starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, without providing evidence, accused the university of "fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party".
Harvard says a fifth of its foreign students in 2024 were fromChina. US lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns about the influence of the Chinese government on US college campuses, including efforts by Beijing-directed Chinese student associations to monitor political activities and stifle academic speech.
The university says it is committed to combating antisemitism and investigating credible allegations of civil rights violations.
Harvard defends 'refusal to surrender'
In her brief order blocking the policy for two weeks, Burroughs said Harvard had shown it could be harmed before there was an opportunity to hear the case in full. The judge, an appointee of Democratic former presidentBarack Obama, scheduled hearings for May 27 and May 29 to consider next steps in the case. Burroughs is also overseeing Harvard's lawsuit over the grant funds.
Harvard University President Alan Garber said the administration was illegally seeking to assert control over the private university's curriculum, faculty and student body.
"The revocation continues a series of government actions to retaliate against Harvard for our refusal to surrender our academic independence," Garber wrote in a letter on Friday to the Harvard community.
The revocation could also weigh on Harvard's finances. At many US universities, international students are more likely to pay full tuition, essentially subsidizing aid for other students.
"It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments," DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
Harvard's bonds, part of its $8.2 billion debt pile, have been falling since Trump first warned US universities in March of cuts to federal funding.
International students enrolled at Harvard include Cleo Carney, daughter of Canadian Prime MinisterMark Carney, and Princess Elisabeth, first in line to the Belgian throne.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)
Originally published on France24
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THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. 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Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The activists had set out to protest Israel's ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which is among the deadliest and most destructive since World War II, and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, both of which have put the territory of around 2 million Palestinians at risk of famine. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organized the voyage, said that the activists were 'kidnapped by Israeli forces' while trying to deliver desperately needed aid to the territory. 'The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — confiscated,' it said in a statement. It said the ship was seized in international waters about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Gaza. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Israel's Foreign Ministry portrayed the voyage as a public relations stunt, saying in an X post that 'the 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel.' It said the activists would return to their home countries and the aid would be sent to Gaza through established channels. It circulated footage of what appeared to be Israeli military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing orange life vests. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, said that the ship was still en route to Israel around midday Monday. It was expected to dock at the port of Ashdod. Afterwards, the activists were expected to be held at a detention facility in the Israeli city of Ramle before being deported, according to Adalah, a legal rights group representing the activists. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A man confronts protesters as they hold placards and the Palestinian flag during a gathering near the Israeli port of Ashdod on June 9, 2025, after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid boat. Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid boat on June 9, preventing the activists on board — including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg — from reaching the blockaded Palestinian territory. (Photo by MAYA LEVIN / AFP) Photo by MAYA LEVIN / AFP via Getty Images Thunberg, a climate campaigner, was among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily a week ago. Along the way, it had stopped on Thursday to rescue four migrants who had jumped overboard to avoid being detained by the Libyan coast guard. 'I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible,' Thunberg said in a prerecorded message released after the ship was halted. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, was also among the volunteers on board. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. She was among six French citizens aboard the boat. French President Emmanuel Macron asked Israel to allow them to return to France as soon as possible, his office said in a statement. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said in Stockholm that the crew and passengers of the Madleen were aware of the risks of the campaign, and that her ministry has advised against travel to Gaza for a decade and people who disregard that advice have a clear personal responsibility, Swedish news agency TT reported. She said the ministry's current assessment is that no one onboard is in danger and there is no need for consular support at present. Adalah, the rights group, said that Israel had 'no legal authority' to take over the ship, because it was in international waters and it was headed not to Israel but to the 'territorial waters of the state of Palestine.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The arrest of the unarmed activists, who operated in a civilian manner to provide humanitarian aid, amounts to a serious breach of international law,' Adalah said in a statement. Israeli officials said that the flotilla was bringing 'meager' aid with what amounted to less than a truckload of aid. 'This wasn't humanitarian aid. It's Instagram activism,' Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said. 'Meanwhile, Israel has delivered over 1,200 truckloads in the last two weeks. So who's really feeding Gaza and who's really feeding their own ego? Greta was not bringing aid, she was bringing herself. And she's not here for Gaza, let's be blunt about it. She's here for Greta.' After a 2 1/2-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers and experts have warned of famine unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta, organizers said. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship. 18-year blockade Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of a blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from importing arms, while critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's Palestinian population. Israel sealed off Gaza from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but later relented under U.S. pressure. In early March, shortly before Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the country again blocked all imports, including food, fuel and medicine. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages, most of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants, but has said that women and children make up most of the dead. The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of the territory's population, leaving people there almost completely dependent on international aid. Efforts to broker another truce have been deadlocked for months. Hamas says it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has vowed to continue the war until all the captives are returned and Hamas is defeated, or disarmed and exiled. 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