Washington, May 24 (H.S.) : The US federal court has temporarily upheld the hopes of Harvard University’s international students by placing a stay on the Trump administration’s recent decision to revoke the university’s eligibility to admit them. The court’s intervention came after Harvard appealed the administration’s ruling, citing violations of the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs granted immediate relief, scheduling a follow-up hearing for Tuesday. Harvard’s President, Alan Garber, described the ruling as a crucial measure to protect the rights of international students.

A pre-decision survey revealed that 66% of Americans supported Harvard in this dispute, while only 32% backed the administration. The Trump administration’s decision came after Harvard resisted policy demands, with the Department of Homeland Security stating that the university could no longer admit foreign students, and current international students would need to either transfer or risk losing their legal status.

The White House justified its stance by asserting that foreign student admission is a privilege, accusing Harvard of fostering an environment detrimental to American values. University representatives criticized the decision as illegal, emphasizing Harvard’s commitment to its international community, which includes nearly 10,000 foreign students. They warned the repercussions of the administration’s actions could harm both the Harvard community and the broader United States.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar