In a ruling that has already sparked intense backlash, U.S. District Judge Allison Dale Burroughs, appointed by Barack Obama, has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to revoke Harvard University’s certification to enroll foreign students—a move that was aimed at holding the Ivy League giant accountable for alleged ties to antisemitism and hostile foreign influence.
The Ruling: Judicial Intervention Overrides DHS Decision
The judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) late Friday, just hours after Harvard filed an emergency complaint. The Biden-era legal hold will allow Harvard to continue admitting foreign students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)—at least for now.
This means the administration’s decision—led by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem—to terminate Harvard’s SEVP status has been temporarily nullified, even as the university remains under scrutiny for:
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Antisemitic rhetoric and violence tolerated (or even supported) on campus
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Alleged cooperation with Chinese Communist Party-linked entities
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A $2.7 billion freeze in federal research funding and $60 million in suspended contracts
Noem: “Harvard Refused to Follow the Law”
Secretary Noem was blunt in her rationale:
“It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students… Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused.”
The administration cited not only ongoing campus unrest and antisemitism, but also longstanding ties to Chinese government research institutions—a connection Trump officials argue poses a direct national security risk.
Harvard’s Response: Panic and Posturing
Harvard claimed the revocation had an “immediate and devastating effect” on more than 7,000 visa holders, who make up nearly 25% of the student body. The university’s lawsuit argued the administration’s actions violated the Constitution and federal law, calling it “retaliation” disguised as policy.
But critics say Harvard is hiding behind legal technicalities to avoid accountability, protecting its financial bottom line at the expense of American sovereignty and campus safety.
The Bigger Picture: Harvard Under Siege
This legal battle is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to root out elite academic institutions accused of promoting woke ideology, foreign propaganda, and lawlessness on U.S. soil—all while benefitting from massive federal funding and foreign tuition payments.
The revocation of SEVP status was one of the boldest moves yet, signaling that the administration is no longer content to just issue warnings.
“Universities like Harvard want the prestige, the profit, and the privilege,” one Trump official told The Federalist, “but none of the responsibility. That’s over.”
What Comes Next? An Appeal and a National Reckoning
As of now, the administration has not announced whether it will appeal Judge Burroughs’ ruling, though insiders suggest the legal team is preparing for a broader fight.
This may escalate into a landmark Supreme Court battle—one that could determine whether universities have the unchecked right to enroll foreign nationals while harboring dangerous ideologies or foreign influence.
Bottom Line
Judge Burroughs’ decision may have offered Harvard a temporary shield, but the war over the soul of academia—and the security of the nation—is far from over.
Trump’s message is clear: America’s universities can’t keep taking billions while undermining the country that funds them.
