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Harvard foreign student visa revocation blocked: Trump stop comes from federal judge
Trump administration’s decision suspended by San Francisco court. The measure would have turned thousands of students into illegal immigrants. Harsh retort from the Department of Homeland Security
A federal judge in California blocked the Trump administration’s decision to revoke the visas of thousands of international students, turning them into potential undocumented immigrants. The measure affected hundreds of Harvard University students, among others.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White of the San Francisco District Court ruled that the visa revocation was most likely “arbitrary, unstable, and an abuse of power” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency responsible for immigration controls.
No deportation until final judgement
With the temporary order, the judge prohibits the federal government from arresting, detaining or deporting the students involved in the measure, at least until the conclusion of the court proceedings.
‘This order provides a minimum of stability for the affected students, who will thus be able to continue their studies and work without the imminent threat of deportation,’ the grounds read.
Washington: “It is a privilege, not a right”
The reaction of the Department of Homeland Security was harsh. Spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin called the judicial decision “an attempt to slow down justice” and “an attack on the president’s constitutional powers”.
“Universities are profiting from high tuition fees paid by foreign students. The Trump administration wants to bring common sense back to the visa system,“ he added, stressing that the visa is ‘a privilege, not a right”.
Visas revoked for links to pro-Palestinian protests
The original measure is part of an immigration crackdown decided in early April, with the suspension of visas to thousands of students and researchers accused of anti-Semitism or support for Hamas for participating in pro-Palestinian protests on campuses.
According to the American Immigration Lawyers Association, at least 4,700 visas are blocked in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database, which monitors the status of about 1.1 million foreign students enrolled in the US for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Senate support for the clampdown: Rubio’s position
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the Trump administration’s hard line on the Senate floor. “We have revoked visas for those who support violence. A visa is not a right: it is a benefit to those who abide by our laws,’ he said.
China intervenes: “Students” rights to be protected’
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning also intervened in the case, calling on the US to “not politicise” academic cooperation and to “protect the legitimate rights” of Chinese students and researchers abroad.
According to the Global Times, about 20% of the foreign students enrolled at Harvard are Chinese. For the academic year 2024-2025, international students represent about 27% of the student population at the prestigious university.
An affair that fuels political conflict over education and immigration
The temporary court blockade is a setback for the Trump administration, which aims to reform the student visa system in a restrictive way, especially in light of the pro-Palestinian protests. The case is bound to have strong repercussions in relations between academia, federal authorities and foreign diplomacies.
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