A U.S. federal judge has issued an injunction halting the Trump administration’s attempt to revoke the legal status of international students enrolled in universities across the country. The decision came just minutes after Harvard University reportedly lost its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), escalating tensions between the White House and one of the nation’s most prominent academic institutions.
District Judge Jeffrey S. White, presiding in California, ruled that the administration is prohibited from arresting or detaining international students based on their immigration status while a legal challenge to the policy proceeds through the courts. The injunction marks the first nationwide relief granted to foreign students since the Trump administration renewed its immigration crackdown following Donald Trump’s return to office in January.
In his ruling, Judge White stated that the administration had “wreaked havoc” on the lives of the plaintiffs and other international students, disrupting their education and stability. While some students had individually succeeded in challenging the administration’s actions, the injunction now protects students on a broader scale, although it does not extend to academic institutions themselves.
The timing of the judge’s order closely followed President Trump’s move to revoke Harvard’s ability to enrol international students. The administration also directed current foreign students at the university to transfer to other institutions or leave the country. However, legal experts cited by The Harvard Crimson emphasized that Judge White’s decision pertained to individual visa holders, not university certifications, and thus did not automatically reinstate Harvard’s SEVP status.
Legal analysts suggest that Harvard’s next legal move could be to seek a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction to block the revocation of its SEVP status while the courts determine the legality of the administration’s actions. Immigration lawyers also indicated that students set to graduate at Harvard’s upcoming Commencement ceremony would still be eligible to receive their degrees, despite the turmoil.
Since Trump’s return to the presidency earlier this year, his administration has escalated measures targeting international students and institutions, particularly Harvard. In addition to the SEVP revocation, the administration has pulled funding from the university and threatened its tax-exempt status.
These moves followed Trump’s January 29 executive order aimed at combating antisemitism on college campuses. The order cited incidents of discrimination and harassment against Jewish students in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, which triggered the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The administration claimed the action was necessary to protect Jewish students, citing a rise in campus-based hostility. The executive order also established a multi-agency task force to investigate and address antisemitic incidents in educational institutions.
The broader legal and political implications of these developments continue to unfold, with universities, students, and advocacy groups closely watching how the courts will navigate the clash between federal authority and academic independence.
