STORY: A federal judge said on Thursday that she will issue an order that continues to block President Donald Trump’s effort to stop Harvard University from enrolling international students.
The move comes after the Boston judge granted a temporary restraining order, which she said would remain in effect while lawyers for both sides negotiate over the terms of the injunction.
Harvard student Kevin Donahue was outside the courthouse during Thursday’s hearing.
“I mean, I think it was clear that the judge was sympathetic to the concerns that international students are suffering harm and may suffer harm from the government’s attempts to kick them out. But one thing that struck me was that even with the order being issued, there is some harm that’s being done just by the process itself and the uncertainty.”
The judge’s decision came shortly after the Trump administration revealed it plans to pursue a new, lengthier administrative process to block the students’ enrollment.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent Harvard a notice, late Wednesday night, saying it would give the Ivy League school 30 days to submit evidence to contest its plans.
The plans involve revoking Harvard’s certification under a federal program allowing it to enroll non-U.S. students.
At the hearing, a Trump administration lawyer argued there was now no need for a court order blocking the administration’s actions.
But the judge said she believed a broad preliminary injunction protecting Harvard and students was necessary while that administrative process played out.
Harvard argued the government had violated its First Amendment rights… and said Trump is retaliating against it for refusing to agree to its demands to control the school’s governance, curriculum and the ideology of its faculty and students.
Trump, on Wednesday, said Harvard should have a cap on the number of foreign students it admits.
“Number one, I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15%, not 31%. We have people want to go to Harvard and other schools. They can’t get in because we have foreign students there. But I want to make sure that the foreign students are people that can love our country.”
Harvard filed the lawsuit a day after the Trump administration announced she was revoke its certification with the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
Harvard said the Trump administration’s move to revoke its ability to enroll international students was (quote) “devastating” for the school and its student body.
Harvard is also pursuing a separate lawsuit challenging Trump’s decision to terminate nearly $3 billion in federal research funding.
