Harvard university’s international enrollment ban can’t be enforced by the government. All student visa processing procedures are to resume as normal. Currently enrolled international students don’t have to transfer to another school to keep their legal status.
The government first issued the ban on May 22, 2025. It mandated the university to stop accepting new foreign student visa holders. Current international students attending Harvard were told to transfer schools or risk losing their legal status.
The government imposed the enrollment ban, arguing Harvard was incapable of controlling hate speech on its campus. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) then ordered Harvard to provide information regarding some of its students. Immigration authorities determined these students were detrimental to U.S. interests.
Harvard responded by suing the government. The courts placed a TRO on the ban while a federal judge reviewed the university’s case. The government froze over two billion dollars in federal funding in turn.
Immigration authorities are barred from taking any steps to revoke Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) per the judge. Government agencies are required to immediately begin processing student visa applications. Individuals with invalidated visas due to the enrollment ban must have their visa status restored, too. The judge didn’t provide any specific reasoning in their decision.
There are currently twenty-five thousand international students enrolled in Harvard. The block means they no longer need to transfer schools to keep their visa status. It’s unclear if the government will appeal the judge’s decision.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical.