U.S. resumes visa issuance for foreign students after Court blocks Trump-era restrictions

In a sharp legal and diplomatic reversal, the United States government has directed its embassies and consulates worldwide to immediately resume processing student and exchange visitor visas for individuals affiliated with Harvard University, following a federal court order that temporarily blocked a Trump-era directive restricting such visas.

The development was confirmed in a diplomatic cable issued Friday by the U.S. Department of State and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The cable instructed consular sections globally that “no such applications should be refused” based on the previous presidential proclamation that had effectively barred foreign students from enrolling at Harvard.

“Effective immediately, consular sections must resume processing of Harvard University student and exchange visitor visas,” the directive stated, confirming that all restrictions under the prior order are now suspended in accordance with the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the court.

The directive follows a temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, halting the Trump administration’s controversial attempt to block Harvard from admitting international students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

The court’s decision comes in response to an ongoing legal battle between Harvard University and the Trump administration, which intensified after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sought to terminate Harvard’s ability to host foreign students amid allegations of student involvement in pro-Palestine protests.

“This TRO signals the judiciary’s willingness to act as a critical check against executive overreach in the area of immigration and higher education,” said Prof. Samuel Littman, an immigration law expert at Columbia University. “The global implications are significant.”

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The visa restriction battle is part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration targeting international students involved in pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. campuses.

In April, more than 1,400 international students from 240 U.S. universities, including Harvard, had their visas revoked under a sweeping DHS directive, amid claims of “illegal and violent activities.” Harvard, in particular, came under intense scrutiny after refusing to release student protestor records without court orders.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also canceled two federal research grants worth $2.7 million awarded to Harvard and warned that failure to comply with federal demands could jeopardize its authorization to enroll international students.

Harvard responded by alerting the federal court that visa denials were already impacting medical research programs, financial aid capacity, and academic continuity for thousands of students.

“This level of interference threatens the core mission of U.S. universities as global centers of learning and innovation,” said Dr. Maryam Okafor, Dean of International Affairs at Boston University. “We are seeing the politicization of higher education at an unprecedented scale.”

With the diplomatic cable now reversing the visa freeze, consular offices globally are expected to resume standard processing procedures for Harvard-affiliated students, researchers, and exchange scholars.

The order clarifies that visa applications must not be denied on the basis of the now-suspended presidential proclamation, effectively nullifying its enforcement pending further judicial proceedings.

While the TRO has temporarily removed the roadblock for incoming international students, the broader legal confrontation remains ongoing, with a key court hearing scheduled next week that could determine the long-term fate of the visa restrictions.

The resumption of visa issuance also coincides with the Biden administration’s more cautious stance on student visa restrictions. However, under pressure from Republican lawmakers and amid renewed scrutiny of foreign influence in U.S. academic institutions, the visa process remains highly politicized.

In late May, the State Department paused the scheduling of new student visa interviews worldwide, citing plans to introduce stricter social media screening. Although this was framed as a security measure, critics argue it was part of a broader strategy to deter foreign student presence in the U.S.

“These piecemeal actions sow confusion among students, universities, and global partners,” said Daniel Wu, policy director at the Global Education Forum. “Restoring clarity and stability should be the priority.”

For now, the federal court’s intervention offers temporary relief to international students at Harvard and signals the judiciary’s continued role in moderating executive power over educational institutions.