Administration of Trump threatens Harvard's accreditation, pursues records relating to foreign students
In the heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the iconic Harvard University campus stands tall, its signature sign visible in a photograph taken by AFP/YONHAP on May 27. However, the serene image does not reveal the ongoing legal battle between the institution and the Trump administration.
As of early July 2025, Harvard University's legal challenge against the Trump administration's ban on foreign students remains active and largely favourable to the university. A federal judge in Boston, Allison D. Burroughs, has repeatedly blocked the administration's attempts to bar foreign students from enrolling at Harvard through a series of temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions.
On June 23, 2025, Judge Burroughs granted Harvard’s request for a preliminary injunction that prevents the Trump administration from enforcing its ban on international students and scholars at Harvard. The judge found that the administration's actions likely violated constitutional rights, including freedom of thought, expression, and speech.
The judge has issued multiple orders that block efforts to revoke Harvard's certification to enroll foreign students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which the university has held for over 70 years. However, the administration has resisted some of Harvard’s proposed terms for the injunction, such as a ban on "categorical restrictions" and a 30-day notice period before any certification revocation.
Despite court orders, the government has attempted to circumvent visa protections through "creative relabeling," leading to ongoing tensions and legal proceedings. The most recent reports indicate that while the Trump administration's ban is blocked for now, Harvard and the government remain at an impasse, and the case is continuing to move forward through the courts.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration is expected to reach a deal with Harvard University by the end of June. However, the details of this potential agreement remain unclear.
Elsewhere, U.S. President Donald Trump had a meeting with African leaders at the White House on July 9. A separate photograph, taken by EPA/YONHAP, captured the event, but there was no connection to the photograph of the Harvard sign taken on May 27.
Reports indicate that the accused Harvard researcher is said to have smuggled frog embryos into the U.S., an allegation that has not been linked to the legal challenge against the foreign student ban. The researcher's case is currently under investigation.
In conclusion, the dispute between Harvard University and the Trump administration over the ban on foreign students remains unresolved and active in the federal courts. The legal challenge, initiated by Harvard, has been successful in halting the enforcement of the ban, but negotiations and filings continue regarding the scope of the injunctions and protections for international students. The photograph of the Harvard sign, taken on May 27, offers a tranquil contrast to the ongoing legal and political turmoil.
- The ongoing legal battle between Harvard University and the Trump administration, initially focused on the ban of foreign students, has expanded to include policy and legislation regarding international education and self-development.
- The ongoing court proceedings, as of early July 2025, have repeatedly blocked the administration's attempts to bar foreign students from enrolling at Harvard, citing violations of constitutional rights such as freedom of thought, expression, and speech.
- The international general news covers the ongoing dispute, highlighting the government's resistance to some of Harvard’s proposed terms for the injunction, including a ban on "categorical restrictions" and a 30-day notice period before any certification revocation.
- As the case continues to move forward through the courts, learning resources on education-and-self-development platforms discuss the implications of the policy and legislation on academic freedom and the rights of international students.
