A federal judge in Massachusetts has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration’s effort to revoke Harvard University’s visa program, citing the potential for irreparable harm to the university. The decision, handed down by U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs, prevents the Department of Homeland Security from immediately stripping Harvard of its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This program allows the university to sponsor international students for U.S. visas, a critical component of its global academic reputation.
While the court’s order provides temporary relief, legal experts caution that it may only delay a larger, more complex court battle between Harvard and the administration. Critics argue that the case could be seen as unfairly weighted against the nation’s oldest university, given the Trump administration’s broader campaign against Harvard, which includes targeting the school with over a dozen federal investigations and freezing more than $2 billion in federal grants and contracts.
Should Harvard lose its SEVP certification—a status it has held for 70 years—the university’s international student body would face immediate and severe consequences. Thousands of currently enrolled international students would need to transfer to another U.S. university or risk losing their student visas within 180 days. This uncertainty has raised concerns among legal experts, who warn that the court’s decision could have a chilling effect on international students, potentially deterring future applicants from enrolling at Harvard.
Despite the financial risks, experts suggest that Harvard’s private status and financial stability may shield it from significant short-term financial harm. However, the long-term implications of these legal battles, including potential restrictions on its ability to maintain a diverse student body, are a cause for concern. Harvard could mitigate these effects by replacing international students with domestic applicants, though the school’s need-blind admissions policy complicates such a shift. For now, the university remains poised to defend its position, with experts noting that Harvard is not defenseless in this ongoing legal and political battle.