Federal Judges Extend Protections for International Students at USC, Harvard Amid Visa Challenges

Federal judges have issued rulings protecting international students from actions taken by the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In South Carolina, Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin reaffirmed an injunction preventing DHS from terminating Nigerian doctoral student Matthew Ariwoola’s international student status, allowing him to continue his biomedical research and teaching at the University of South Carolina amid a broader pattern of SEVIS record revocations. Meanwhile, in Boston, Judge Allison Burroughs extended a temporary restraining order blocking President Trump’s efforts to revoke Harvard University's ability to enroll international students and to bar foreign nationals from entering the U.S. to study or conduct research at Harvard. The Trump administration, citing concerns about violence, antisemitism, and alleged coordination with the Chinese Communist Party, has faced legal challenges over its actions targeting Harvard’s international student population, which comprises a significant portion of its student body. Harvard’s legal team argues that the administration's actions violate constitutional rights and create uncertainty for students, while the administration maintains that enrolling foreign students is a privilege, not a right. These ongoing court battles highlight the tension between federal immigration enforcement policies and the rights and academic pursuits of international students at major U.S. universities.