Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Topics: Donald Trump
James Moorhouse
Donald Trump's administration has kickstarted a standoff between the government and Harvard University after revoking the educational establishment's ability to enrol international students.
Since returning as US president earlier this year, the 78-year-old has set out his plans for education in America, which controversially included him signing an order to dismantle the US education department in March.
It's also clear in abundance that Trump isn't too keen on having too many foreign people living in the United States, something he has been addressing through strict deportation rules since returning to office.
So, it's perhaps no surprise that on Thursday, it was confirmed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that Harvard's 'Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification' had been revoked 'as a result of their failure to adhere to the law.'
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"Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country," she wrote on Twitter.
Harvard, which is the oldest university in America, was quick to respond, calling the move 'unlawful' in an official statement.
"We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University – and this nation – immeasurably," the university responded.
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"We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission."
It was confirmed on 23 May that Harvard have now sued the Trump administration in response to the news, as the school alleged that the move is a 'blatant violation' of the US constitution and other federal laws.
Describing the 'immediate and devastating effect' the administration's decision has had, the university said: "With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard."
Hours after the complaint was filed in a Boston federal court, US District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order, which puts a stop to Trump's plans - temporarily.
Before the ruling came in, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said the lawsuit was 'frivolous'.
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"If only Harvard cared this much about ending the scourge of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators on their campus they wouldn't be in this situation to begin with," she said.
"Harvard should spend their time and resources on creating a safe campus environment instead of filing frivolous lawsuits."
The Trump administration has launched investigations into dozens of universities across the country, and in April sent Harvard University a 'list of demands', which saw the institution claim that it was going to sue.
The White House later suggested that the list had been sent by mistake.
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Demands on the list called for Harvard to change its hiring, admission and teaching practices to help fight antisemitism on campus, and threatened to revoke the university's tax-exempt status and freeze billions of dollars in government grants if it did not comply.
Despite Harvard claiming earlier this year that it had made a number of changes to address this, the Department of Homeland Security warned that the university would lose its ability to host international students, and that has now come to fruition, leaving current international students in panic as they don't know what to expect.
The changes were set to come into place for the upcoming 2025/26 academic year, however, the letter which was sent to Harvard stated that the university has 72 hours to comply with Trump's demands, and therefore has the opportunity to 'regain' the ability to enrol international students.
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In wake of the Boston court blocking the plans and issuing a temporary restraining order in response to the university's lawsuit, it seems the rollout of these new rules will at the very least be delayed - if not abandoned altogether.
One international student from Sweden told the BBC: "We came here because of what America stands for: freedom of speech, academic freedom, a vibrant intellectual community. And now Trump is threatening all those values.
"Without the international students, Harvard is simply not Harvard anymore."
LADbible Group has contacted The White House for comment.