Not make any changes to Harvard's student visa program

Judge says she will order DHS and State Department to not make any changes to Harvard's student visa program indefinitely

By Danya Gainor, Andy Rose, Katelyn Polantz, Devan Cole, Danny Freeman and Sabrina Shulman

US District Court Judge Allison Burroughs says she will order the Department of Homeland Security and State Department to not make any changes to Harvard’s student visa program indefinitely.

While the Trump administration has tried to defuse the situation heading into a crucial court hearing for Harvard University’s international student population, the judge is moving forward with putting in place a firm court order – a preliminary injunction – after previously stepping in on an emergency basis last week to stop the Trump administration’s revocation of Harvard’s student visa program.

Burroughs said, “I want to maintain the status quo,” to allow Harvard to continue hosting international students on visas at this time.

The details are still being hashed out in court.

Burroughs has told Harvard’s lawyers and the Justice Department lawyers to work out an agreement to stop the revocation of the student visa program for the time being.

“It doesn’t need to be draconian, but I want to make sure it’s worded in such a way that nothing changes,” she said.

Harvard’s lead lawyer Ian Gershengorn said he wants to make sure there are no “shenanigans” once the court order is in place.

The judge also has expressed concern that potential Harvard students abroad have been unable to get visas from some US embassies abroad since last week, according to Harvard’s sworn statements.

The Justice Department has said this morning the case may be moot because of the administration’s latest procedural move to delay consequence for Harvard, the judge indicated Harvard’s First Amendment claims may still need to be resolved in court.

The university says it is being unfairly retaliated against. The Justice Department now says that’s not true, and they will allow for additional administrative proceedings with the university over the student visa program.