Washington: In a significant judicial move, a U.S. federal court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to ban foreign student admissions at Harvard University. The university challenged the decision in a Boston federal court, arguing that the directive was unconstitutional and discriminatory.

The controversy erupted after Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem issued an abrupt order canceling Harvard’s participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Noem accused the institution of fostering violent ideologies, harboring anti-Semitic sentiments, and maintaining alleged ties with the Chinese Communist Party.

The order demanded Harvard submit six specific documents related to its international students within 72 hours. It further stated that compliance would lead to the suspension of the directive, allowing international admissions to proceed. The ban, if enforced, would have taken effect starting in the 2025–2026 academic year.

Harvard, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, currently hosts 6,800 international students, comprising 27% of its student population. Among them, approximately 700 are Indian nationals, while a third hail from China.

The court’s intervention is being seen as a strong rebuke to the administration's sweeping claims and a defense of academic freedom and global educational exchange. The case remains under legal review, with broader implications for U.S. higher education and its relationship with international students.