The U.S. State Department has instructed embassies and consulates worldwide to resume processing student and exchange visitor visas for Harvard University, following a federal judge’s temporary block on President Donald Trump’s recent immigration order.
This directive, issued via diplomatic cable on June 6 and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, comes after U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston granted a temporary restraining order in favor of Harvard. The order halts Trump’s proclamation from taking effect, citing legal grounds for further review.
Trump’s administration had justified the visa ban on national security grounds, targeting international students planning to study at Harvard, one of the nation’s most prestigious and wealthiest academic institutions.
The move is part of a broader conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard University. The White House has already proposed revoking the school’s tax-exempt status and frozen billions in federal grants, accusing the university of resisting government influence over its governance, academic content, and ideological direction.
Harvard has filed multiple legal challenges, claiming the administration's actions amount to political retaliation. In court, the university has argued that these policies threaten academic freedom and international collaboration.
Despite the visa policy reversal, the State Department emphasized that other rules remain unchanged, including strict vetting of applicants’ social media and online activities. The agency declined to comment further on internal directives.
This ruling marks a temporary but significant legal victory for Harvard and its global student community, allowing visa processing to resume amid broader legal battles over academic autonomy and immigration policy.
The decision is expected to influence similar cases involving other universities and sets a precedent in the ongoing clash between federal immigration policy and higher education institutions.