Administration's decision to expel international students from Harvard over online learning blocked by judge
Harvard's International Student Enrollment Temporarily Unaffected by Government Ban
In a significant turn of events, a Massachusetts federal judge has temporarily halted the U.S. government's decision to revoke Harvard University's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) certification, thereby allowing the Ivy League institution to continue enrolling international students.
During a hearing on Friday, Judge Allison Burroughs indicated that she would grant "certain protections" to international students at Harvard. This decision came a week after the U.S. government announced its decision to revoke Harvard's SEVIS certification, a move that could potentially bar international students from studying at the university.
The revocation of SEVIS certification is critical as it authorizes Harvard to enroll international students by issuing Form I-20s, an essential document for maintaining lawful student status in the U.S. The absence of this certification would have disrupted the academic lives of around 6,700 international students, representing 27% of Harvard's total student body.
The legal battle between Harvard and the U.S. government escalated following the SEVIS revocation. Harvard swiftly challenged the government's decision in court, leading to Judge Burroughs granting a preliminary injunction until a hearing scheduled for this Friday. This injunction temporarily freezes the revocation, enabling international students currently enrolled or incoming to continue their studies at Harvard as usual.
Despite the ongoing legal battles, Harvard President Alan Garber, during his graduation speech today, acknowledged the presence of international students without directly addressing the legal battle with the Trump administration, receiving thunderous applause from the audience.
Recent news reports suggest that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a Notice of Intent to Withdraw (NOIW) Harvard's SEVP certification, accusing the university of failing to comply with federal requests related to international students and alleging that the university fostered "anti-American ideology" on campus. However, these claims have been met with strong opposition from the university, which asserted that the allegations are politically motivated and harmful to academic freedom.
The outcome of the ongoing litigation will determine the final status of Harvard's SEVP certification and the ability of international students to enroll and remain at the university. For now, however, international students at Harvard can continue their studies without immediate disruption.
- In light of the ongoing legal battle, politics and general news have become intertwined with education-and-self-development at Harvard University, as international students grapple with the future of their academic journeys.
- The recent accusations of anti-American ideology on campus by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have sparked debates in politics and general news, challenging the intellectual integrity of educational institutions.
