A federal judge on Thursday extended her block on the Trump administration shutting down Harvard’s foreign student program, saying things should remain static while the school defends itself in front of Homeland Security officials.
Judge Allison Burroughs had already issued a restraining order against the administration and said Thursday that the “status quo” will remain in place while the legal battle develops.
Homeland Security formally notified Harvard on Wednesday of the case against it, laying out three reasons for booting the university from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
The department said Harvard has failed to turn over documents about criminal entanglements of its foreign students, has let antisemitism flourish on its campus and has maintained iffy relationships with the Chinese, including having “hosted and trained” paramilitary figures “complicit in the Uyghur genocide.”
The notice gives the school 30 days to respond before it loses access to the SEVP, which would mean the school could no longer host the foreign students who comprise a quarter of its student body.
It also says the Massachusetts university can voluntarily withdraw from the SEVP, then reapply if it chooses.
“Harvard’s refusal to comply with SEVP oversight was the latest evidence that it disdains the American people and takes for granted U.S. taxpayer benefits,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Ms. Noem announced last week that she was kicking Harvard out of the SEVP. The school quickly sued, and Judge Burroughs immediately put the move on hold.
Ms. Noem, in her public statement, said Harvard says it “now wishes to comply with SEVP standards.”
But she said DHS needs more substantive action.
“We continue to reject Harvard’s repeated pattern of endangering its students and spreading American hate — it must change its ways to be eligible to receive generous benefits from the American people,” Ms. Noem said.
Harvard says the administration is bullying the school as retaliation for its hiring and student admission practices.
The school has admitted to some antisemitism problems but says it’s taking steps to cool things on campus.
Homeland Security said any of the three violations it listed would be enough to lose status in the SEVP.
The allegations about Chinese connections include accusing school faculty of having “collaborated with China-based academics on projects funded by an Iranian government agent.”
Thursday’s action came even as Harvard carried out its spring commencement ceremony.
Dr. Abraham Verghese, a Stanford University professor, National Humanities Medal winner and immigrant from Ethiopia, delivered the commencement address, saying he was the right person to speak at a time when the Trump administration is engaged in a crackdown on immigration that, he said, has snared legal immigrants too.
“Perhaps it is fitting that you hear from an immigrant like me,” he said.
He praised Harvard’s President Alan Garber for resisting the administration.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.