US judge blocks bid to bar Harvard's international students

A US federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Friday blocking Trump administration's bid to stop Harvard University from enrolling or allowing international students to attend its colleges. At least 788 students and scholars from India are enrolled across the university's 13 colleges for academic year 2024-25.

Harvard had sued the Trump administration earlier on Friday after the Department of Homeland Security had issued an order on Thursday revoking Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. "This means Harvard can no longer enrol foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status," the agency had said.

The varsity had also moved court seeking a temporary restraining order to immediately stay implementation of the administration's order.

The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts, accused the administration of a "campaign of retribution", saying it was a "clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to control Harvard's governance, curriculum and 'ideology' of its faculty and students".

Harvard Global Support Services said on its website that each year, anywhere from 500-800 Indian students and scholars study at Harvard. The varsity hosts a total of about 10,158 students and scholars from around the world across its schools, according to Harvard International Office estimates.