Headline Roundup • May 23rd, 2025
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Admin's International Student Ban
Education,Deportations,Harvard,Kristi Noem,Donald Trump,Trump Administration,Politics,Colleges And Universities
Summary from the AllSides News Team
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students on Friday.
The Details: Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked the university's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification on Thursday. Noem cited allegations of the school fostering antisemitism and collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party. The university argued that the revocation was a violation of the U.S. Constitution and federal law, and that it would have a devastating effect on the university and over 7,000 visa holders.
For Context: This move by the Trump administration is perceived as part of a broader campaign to align universities, law firms, media, courts, and other institutions with the President's policies. The action was blocked by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama.
How the Media Covered It: The New York Times (Lean Left bias) focused primarily on steps Harvard has taken against the Trump administration, framing the action as part of a broader back-and-forth between the Trump administration and higher-ed institutions in response to campus protests. Reuters (Center bias) focused on the lawsuit by Harvard and the ruling by the judge to block the Trump administration's move. It provided details about the lawsuit and background about the Trump administration's broader campaign to align institutions with its policies. Just the News (Lean Right bias) highlighted Secretary Noem's statement that the revocation of the certification was due to Harvard's alleged fostering of violence, antisemitism, and coordination with the Chinese Communist Party. It also emphasized Noem's assertion that it is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students.
Revised by the AllSides staff (of humans) after a first draft from our custom AI. Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary.
Featured Coverage of this Story
Sophie Park for The New York Times Stephanie Saul
Harvard University sued the Trump administration on Friday, less than 24 hours after the Department of Homeland Security said it would block international students from attending the nation’s oldest university and one of its most prestigious.
Later Friday morning, at the university’s request, a federal judge in Boston moved swiftly to block implementation of the federal government’s order.
A U.S. judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students, a move that ratcheted up White House efforts to conform practices in academia to President Donald Trump's policies.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs' order provides temporary relief to the thousands of international students who were faced with being forced to transfer under a policy that the Ivy League school called part of the administration's broader effort to retaliate against it for refusing to "surrender its academic independence."
A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard's ability to admit international students. Obama-appointed U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued the stay, Reuters reported.
