US Judge Halts Trump Administration Move To Strip Harvard Of International Student Certification: Reports

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University's certification to enrol international students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), as reported by news agency AP (Associated Press).

According to media reports, The ruling ensures that Harvard can continue hosting international students on F-1 and J-1 visas while legal proceedings continue.

Harvard filed a sweeping lawsuit on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, describing the government's decision as “unlawful and unwarranted.” The university argued that stripping its ability to admit foreign students would fundamentally alter its identity, declaring, “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”

The 70-page legal filing names several top Trump-era officials as defendants, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. It also targets the Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Justice.

Harvard noted that it has maintained federal certification to host international students for over seven decades, and is a long-standing sponsor of the J-1 exchange visitor program.

The court’s order offers temporary relief to the institution as the case proceeds, with significant implications for other U.S. universities and their foreign student populations.

With inputs from agencies