The Trump administration continues to wage an international war, but instead of using soldiers, they are using haphazard legislation to try to prevail over the international community, and the results are not going their way. Their latest stunt, which was stopped by a federal judge, saw them try to prevent Harvard University from taking in international students.
Harvard University, which is not only one of the best in the States but also globally, is one of the most sought after colleges in the world. With their open admission policy, every year they are accused of taking less and less American students in favor of international ones, which, according to MAGA fanatics, is a detriment to the country. The University is well known for refusing to align with Trump or his policies, and are arguing that “revocation of its certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program was “clear retaliation” for its refusal of the government’s ideologically rooted policy demands.”
US District Court Judge Allison Burroughs agreed and ruled in their favor, and is now in charge of considering the admission of a separate suit that would restore another retaliatory measure, the administration’s freeze of $2.65 billion in federal funding.
Harvard’s lawsuit against the Trump administration because of international students
Their complaint is clear, according to the college, the decision to drop the school from the Department of Homeland Security’s SEVP system is in direct violation of the law and “It is the latest act by the government in clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the government’s demands to control Harvard’s governance, curriculum, and the ‘ideology’ of its faculty and students.”
The judge agreed with the institution in that “it will sustain immediate and irreparable injury” if the government were allowed to revoke the school’s certification. Harvard’s loss of authority to admit international students was a clear retaliatory move, stemming from its resistance to federal directives. The university’s refusal to comply with politically charged conditions, like dismantling diversity programs and sharing disciplinary records triggered the order and, according to the lawsuit, “With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body.”
Harvard president Alan Garber, promised the school’s community “You are our classmates and friends, our colleagues and mentors, our partners in the work of this great institution,” he said Friday in a statement. “Thanks to you, we know more and understand more, and our country and our world are more enlightened and more resilient. We will support you as we do our utmost to ensure that Harvard remains open to the world.”
Harvard’s new lawsuit was filed against the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice and State, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin clearly opposed the suit, stating that “This lawsuit seeks to kneecap the President’s constitutionally vested powers under Article II. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. The Trump administration is committed to restoring common sense to our student visa system; no lawsuit, this or any other, is going to change that. We have the law, the facts, and common sense on our side.”
The president seemed unconcerned with the situation stating “Harvard is going to have to change its ways. So are some others.”
His campaign to try to make Harvard bend is not stopping with banning international students from its admissions, the IRS is reportedly considering revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status, posing an additional financial challenge and the funding freeze will also need to be battled in court.
But the damage might be irreparable soon, especially if the government tries to drag out these cases Harvard international affairs vice provost Mark Elliott said in an affidavit “There is simply no replacing the presence and contributions of these individuals and future generations of international students who will feel that entrusting their education and their future to Harvard is too risky, unless the court immediately steps in to reverse the government’s decision and confirm that this highly disruptive action is unlawful.”