Share this @internewscast.com
A United States judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from revoking Harvard University’s ability to enrol foreign students but the prospect of forced transfer or deportation still looms for many.
The order provides only temporary relief to thousands of international students and the Trump administration has signalled its intention to challenge the ruling, with a White House spokesperson saying “unelected judges have no right to stop the Trump Administration from exercising their rightful control over immigration policy and national security policy.”
The administration announced the Harvard visa revocation as part of an ongoing investigation into the university by Homeland Security, which has accused the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party”.
Harvard has criticised the move as a “blatant violation” of constitutional free speech provisions and an attack on its “refusal to surrender our academic independence”. It said the revocation would have an “immediate and devastating effect” on the university and more than 7,000 visa holders.

Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, said it would be “distressing” to Australian students at Harvard.

A ‘stressful time’ for Australian students

Sarah Davis, a student from Australia enrolled at Harvard University, said it was an “incredibly stressful time” on the ground.

“It’s obviously an incredibly stressful time for Australian and Kiwi international students, but also for all international students,” Davis told the BBC.
“The news has come only about five days before a lot of us are due to graduate [from] the university.”
For students, that means a nervous wait, both for those who have gone home for the Northern Hemisphere summer break, and others — like Davis — who have just finished their studies and were anticipating relying on Harvard to sponsor them in the jobs they’d secured in the US.

“We’re seeing a lot of confusion,” she said. “This news seems to have taken at least the Harvard International Office by complete surprise.”

“It got announced, actually, only ten minutes after we finished the final call for international students for the year. And they seemed to have no indication of this coming based on the call before the news broke,” Davis said.

Australia monitoring developments ‘closely’

Rudd said they were monitoring developments closely.
“I know this will be distressing for Harvard’s many Australian students,” he said in a statement on X.
“The embassy is working with the United States government to obtain the details of this decision so that Australian students can receive appropriate advice.

“We also intend to engage the administration more broadly on the impact of this decision for Australian students and their families both at Harvard and at other campuses across the United States.”

‘A warning to all universities’

Homeland security secretary Kristi Noem said the Trump administration was “holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus”.
“It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enrol foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments,” she said.

“Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.”

The decision has found support from conservative circles, including Jay Greene at The Heritage Foundation, an American think tank heavily involved in the Project 2025 manifesto — a proposed conservative presidential transition handbook.
“I think the Trump administration is trying to remind elite institutions in the United States that they are the beneficiaries of very large subsidies from taxpayers. And so they do have to serve American interests,” Greene said.

It marks a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s campaign against the elite Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which has emerged as one of Trump’s most prominent institutional targets.

The move came after Harvard refused to provide information that Noem demanded about some foreign student visa holders at the university, the department said.

Harvard enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in the 2024-2025 school year, amounting to 27 per cent of its total enrolment, according to university statistics.

‘Unlawful’, Harvard says

“The government’s action is unlawful”, the university said in a statement.
“This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”

The university said it was “fully committed” to educating foreign students and was working on producing guidance for affected students.

The Trump administration escalates its crackdown on US universities image
Trump has undertaken an extraordinary effort to revamp private colleges and schools across the US that he says foster anti-American, Marxist and “radical left” ideologies. He has criticised Harvard in particular for hiring prominent Democrats for teaching or leadership positions.
Trump has frozen some US$3 billion ($4.7 billion) in federal grants to Harvard in recent weeks, leading the university to sue to restore the funding.
About 120 Australian students are studying at the university, according to the Harvard International Office website.
— With reporting by Australian Associated Press and Reuters

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

The Enigma of Tibet’s Disappeared Monk: 30 Years Later

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is one of the most famous missing persons in…
Blair Kinghorn and Finn Russell celebrate at full time after the win in Melbourne

Finn Russell Calls on Lions to Dominate and Aim for Clean Sweep Against Australia

FINN RUSSELL is encouraging the British and Irish Lions to conclude their…
FILE - An Israeli soldier stands beside humanitarian aid packages awaiting pickup on the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing in the Gaza Strip, Thursday, July 24, 2025, during a media tour organized by the Israeli army. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, file)

Israeli Military Gears Up for Airdrop Aid in Response to Escalating Hunger in Gaza

The Israeli military declared that they would start airlifting aid to Gaza…
Mornington Peninsula locals have lost a six-year fight to stop the development of a fast-food restaurant just metres away from the foreshore.

Residents Defeated in Battle Against McDonald’s in Coastal Suburb

Mornington Peninsula locals have lost a six-year fight to stop the development…

INXS Tops Triple J’s Hottest Aussie 100 with “Never Tear Us Apart”

Aussie power ballad Never Tear Us Apart by 1980s rock royalty INXS…
those on board were evacuated on the runway, according to American Airlines and Denver International Airport.

Plane Evacuated on Runway Due to Landing Gear Problem

More than 150 passengers on an American Airlines flight departing from Denver…

Australian Boat Delivering Aid to Gaza Intercepted by Israeli Navy

A boat carrying activists, including two Australians, has been intercepted by Israeli…
A recall notice has been issued by the ACCC for some Google Pixel 6a smartphones.

Recall Issued for Older Google Pixel Phones Due to Burn Injury Risk

A recall has been announced for certain Google Pixel 6a smartphones over…

Four individuals living in Australia now have arrest warrants and rewards set for their capture in Hong Kong.

Four Australian residents are now facing overseas arrest warrants issued by Hong…

Donald Trump’s Golf Outing in Scotland Sparks Protests

US President Donald Trump played golf under stringent security on his first…
Polling Day Imagery, Australian Electoral Commission, voting in Australia

Why Allowing 16-Year-Olds to Vote Matters for Australia’s Next Election

Politicians in Australia have thrown support behind allowing 16- and 17-year-olds have…

Tour de France: Pogačar Secures Fourth Victory as Van Aert Triumphs in Intense Final Stage

Tadej Pogačar completed an exceptional 21-day performance to secure the Tour de…