BOSTON, Ma. — A federal judge said on May 29 that she would maintain a temporary block she had placed on the Department of Homeland Security’s revocation of Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows it to enroll foreign students.
Lawyers for Harvard and the Department of Justice (DOJ) had been scheduled to have a hearing on the potential for a longer-term block. Before the hearing, however, the Trump administration changed its position and told the judge that instead of immediately decertifying Harvard, it would consider the issue through a more lengthy administrative process.
Harvard had sued the administration, alleging that its quick attempt to revoke its certification was in retaliation for protected speech. It also alleged that the revocation, announced by the Department of Homeland Security on May 22, was illegal because it didn’t follow the proper administrative process….