Judge Blocks Trump-Era Rule Targeting Foreign Students’ Legal Status
A U.S. federal judge has issued a nationwide injunction temporarily halting the Trump administration’s controversial attempt to strip legal immigration status from international students enrolled in American universities.
The ruling, issued by District Judge Jeffrey S. White in California, comes amid escalating tensions between the administration and elite academic institutions, notably Harvard University.
Judge White’s order blocks immigration authorities from arresting or detaining international students based solely on their visa status while a broader legal challenge plays out in court.
He sharply criticized the administration’s actions, stating they had “wreaked havoc” on the lives of students, disrupting both their education and their legal residency in the U.S.
While previous court victories applied to individual students, this injunction offers protection on a nationwide scale—although it does not reinstate university certifications or protect institutions themselves.
The ruling was issued just minutes after Harvard reportedly lost its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a move that would prevent it from enrolling international students.
The Trump administration also directed Harvard’s current international students to either transfer or leave the country.
However, legal analysts clarified that the injunction focuses on protecting students, not the certification status of their schools. As such, Harvard may still need to pursue a separate restraining order to block the SEVP revocation.
Harvard is also facing broader pressure from the White House. Since President Trump returned to office in January, his administration has intensified its scrutiny of the university.
In addition to revoking SEVP certification, federal funding has been pulled and Harvard’s tax-exempt status has come under threat.
These actions follow Trump’s January 29 executive order targeting antisemitism on college campuses, citing an increase in discrimination against Jewish students after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza.
The order mandates a multi-agency task force to investigate campus antisemitism and enforce federal compliance, which the administration claims justifies its actions against institutions like Harvard.
The legal battle is being closely monitored by universities, advocacy groups, and immigration lawyers, as it raises significant questions about academic freedom, immigration policy, and the balance of power between federal authority and higher education institutions.
Judge Blocks Trump-Era Rule Targeting Foreign Students’ Legal Status