Stripping Foreign Students Status: A U.S. federal judge has issued an injunction blocking the Trump administration’s effort to revoke the legal status of international students attending universities nationwide. This ruling came shortly after Harvard University reportedly lost its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), intensifying the conflict between the White House and one of the country’s leading academic institutions.
District Judge Jeffrey S. White, presiding in California, ruled that the administration is barred from arresting or detaining international students based on their immigration status while a legal challenge to the policy proceeds. This injunction represents the first nationwide relief for foreign students since the Trump administration intensified its immigration crackdown following Donald Trump’s return to office in January.
In his decision, Judge White stated that the administration had “wreaked havoc” on the plaintiffs and other international students, disrupting their education and stability. While some students had individually succeeded in challenging the administration’s actions, this injunction now offers broader protection to students, though it does not apply to academic institutions themselves.
The judge’s order was issued soon after President Trump moved to revoke Harvard’s authorization to enroll international students. The administration also instructed current foreign students at Harvard to transfer to other schools or leave the country. However, legal experts cited by The Harvard Crimson noted that Judge White’s ruling applies to individual visa holders, not university certifications, and therefore does not automatically restore Harvard’s SEVP status.
Legal analysts suggest Harvard may seek a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction to block the revocation of its SEVP status while the courts review the legality of the administration’s actions. Immigration lawyers also stated that students scheduled to graduate at Harvard’s upcoming Commencement would still be eligible to receive their degrees despite the uncertainty.
Since Trump’s return to the presidency earlier this year, his administration has escalated actions targeting international students and institutions, particularly Harvard. Along with the SEVP revocation, the administration has withdrawn funding from the university and threatened its tax-exempt status.
Still on Stripping Foreign Students Status
These actions followed Trump’s January 29 executive order aimed at combating antisemitism on college campuses. The order referenced incidents of discrimination and harassment against Jewish students following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, which sparked ongoing conflict in Gaza. The administration claimed the order was necessary to protect Jewish students amid increased campus hostility. The executive order also established a multi-agency task force to investigate and address antisemitic incidents at educational institutions.
The broader legal and political consequences of these developments are still emerging, with universities, students, and advocacy groups closely monitoring how the courts will handle the tension between federal authority and academic autonomy.
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