Harvard University's ban on recruiting international students suspended

Just hours after Harvard University filed a lawsuit against US authorities for banning the school from recruiting international students, federal judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary injunction.

Judge Burroughs' order temporarily halts the ban on Harvard's international student recruitment. Judge Burroughs issued the order hours after receiving Harvard's lawsuit.

The tense confrontation between the White House and Harvard University is attracting great international public attention (Illustration: Freepik).

In a lawsuit filed in Massachusetts federal court, Harvard called the federal government's actions "a serious violation" of the U.S. Constitution, specifically the First Amendment, as well as several federal laws governing due process and administrative procedures.

"With a single stroke of the pen, the U.S. government has wiped out a quarter of Harvard's student body. Meanwhile, international students play a vital role in the school's mission and operations. Without international students, Harvard would no longer be Harvard," the lawsuit states.

In a letter to the student and faculty community studying and working at Harvard, Harvard University President Alan Garber criticized the ban on international student recruitment as "an illegal and unacceptable act".

"This order threatens the future of thousands of students and scholars at Harvard. At the same time, this order also serves as a warning to tens of thousands of other students studying at universities across the United States. They are people who have come to the United States to pursue their studies and realize their dreams," Mr. Garber wrote.

Mr. Garber affirmed that the school will pursue the lawsuit to the end to protect international students.

"You are our classmates, our colleagues, and our partners in the journey of serving knowledge. Thanks to you, we become more knowledgeable together, and the world becomes a better place. Harvard will accompany you, and we will do our best to ensure that the school is always open to welcome the world," Mr. Garber emphasized.

The move to ban Harvard from recruiting international students is the latest escalation in a confrontation between the White House and America’s oldest university. Previously, the Trump administration froze billions of dollars in research funding for Harvard.

The impact of the international student ban on Harvard has caused concern for many other universities across the United States. The ban has also caused Harvard's operations to immediately fall into serious turmoil, causing severe psychological impacts on the school's international students.

Responding to Harvard University's latest lawsuit against US authorities, the assistant director of communications for the US Department of Homeland Security - Ms. Tricia McLaughlin - stated: "Recruiting foreign students is a privilege, not a natural right. This privilege is helping universities increase revenue, enriching the financial funds worth billions of dollars of many schools.

The government is committed to bringing rationality back to the student visa system. No lawsuit, whether filed by Harvard or any other school, will change that goal. We will do everything according to the law, based on the facts and logic of the situation."

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/tam-dung-lenh-cam-dai-hoc-harvard-tuyen-du-hoc-sinh-20250524004748612.htm