In a high-stakes legal move, Harvard University is suing the Trump administration after being abruptly stripped of its ability to enroll international students—putting nearly 7,000 scholars in limbo and igniting a fresh legal battle over academic freedom and immigration policy.

A Stunning Federal Revocation

On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notified Harvard it was no longer certified under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a status required to host international students. The move came with immediate consequences: incoming students may not enter the country, and current students on F-1 or J-1 visas must transfer or risk deportation.

“This action threatens to erase nearly a third of our student body,” Harvard said in its lawsuit, calling the decision retaliatory and unlawful.

Harvard Pushes Back in Court

Harvard filed suit Friday against DHS, the Departments of Justice and State, and key Trump officials including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi. The university seeks an emergency court order to block the policy, arguing the administration is punishing it for exercising First Amendment rights and resisting federal overreach into campus governance and ideology.

“This is part of a broader campaign to force Harvard to abandon its values,” the complaint reads.

President Alan Garber assured international students they are not alone:
“You are our classmates, our mentors, our partners. We will fight for you and for the integrity of Harvard.”

Political Ideology vs. Academic Independence

The administration’s actions appear rooted in broader ideological battles. Officials have accused Harvard and other universities of harboring anti-American sentiment and promoting pro-Hamas and antisemitic ideologies—claims the university strongly denies.

DHS Secretary Noem justified the decertification by citing Harvard’s “insufficient” compliance with a request for foreign student conduct records. Harvard contends it submitted the documents and received no explanation for their alleged inadequacy.

Harvard now faces a 72-hour deadline to provide five years of additional records or risk permanent decertification—demands the university argues lack any legal basis.

Financial and Academic Fallout

The revocation adds to a mounting list of federal pressure tactics. Harvard is already in court challenging a $2.65 billion freeze in federal research funding. The IRS is also reportedly reviewing the university’s tax-exempt status.

University officials warn that banning foreign students will deal a severe blow to research labs, academic programs, and innovation pipelines.

“This could devastate not just Harvard but American higher education as a whole,” said economist and former Obama advisor Jason Furman. “International students are a core strength of our universities—and of U.S. global influence.”

Students in Shock, Uncertain About the Future

International students are grappling with fear and uncertainty. For Jared, an 18-year-old admitted student from New Zealand, the news was crushing.

“It felt like my heart dropped,” he said. “This was a dream. Now everything is up in the air.”

Others worry about losing their visas, transferring schools, or missing out on the financial aid and opportunities Harvard offers.

Karl Molden, an Austrian junior, said students feel caught in a political crossfire.
“We’re being used as pawns in a bigger fight between democracy and authoritarianism.”

Backlash From Faculty and Global Leaders

Harvard faculty members and academic groups have fiercely condemned the move.

“It’s horrendous on every level,” said Furman. “This isn’t about security—it’s about ideology.”

The American Association of University Professors called the administration’s actions “an unconstitutional assault” on the international academic community. Australia’s ambassador to the U.S. has also stepped in, offering support to affected students.

Broader Crackdown on Higher Education

Harvard’s clash with the Trump administration is not an isolated incident. The White House has demanded sweeping changes from multiple universities—including purging diversity initiatives, auditing faculty viewpoints, and cracking down on campus protests, especially related to the Israel-Hamas war.

While Harvard has acknowledged instances of antisemitism and pledged reforms, university leaders argue the government’s demands cross legal and ethical lines.

“This is not about safety or compliance,” said one Harvard professor. “It’s about political control.”

A Defining Moment

As the legal battle unfolds, Harvard remains defiant—and resolute.

“We are committed to protecting our international students and the values that define us,” said spokesperson Jason Newton. “This is about more than policy—it’s about who we are as a university and as a country.”

Source: CNN – Harvard sues Trump administration to halt federal ban on enrolling international students

The post Harvard Fights Back: Sues Trump Administration Over Ban on International Students appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

The Trump administration has taken a dramatic step in its ongoing conflict with higher education institutions, revoking Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. The move, announced Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), could reshape the university’s academic landscape and significantly impact thousands of students from around the world.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening, what it means for the Harvard community, and what remains uncertain.

What Just Happened?

The Department of Homeland Security terminated Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which allows U.S. institutions to host international students on F-1 and J-1 visas. Without this certification, Harvard is legally barred from enrolling any new or existing international students under these visa programs.

This decision follows a high-profile standoff between Harvard and the Trump administration, which froze $2.2 billion in federal funding last month. The freeze came after Harvard refused to comply with demands to overhaul its international student program, becoming one of the first elite universities to push back against the administration’s education policies.

Harvard has strongly condemned the DHS decision, calling it “unlawful” and pledging swift action to support affected students.

Why This Matters: The Impact on Harvard’s International Community

International students are a vital part of Harvard’s academic fabric. In the 2024–2025 academic year alone, the university enrolled 6,793 international students—nearly 27% of its student body. Including visiting scholars and researchers, the international academic community at Harvard totals nearly 10,000 individuals from more than 140 countries.

Losing SEVP certification means these students must either transfer to another certified university or risk falling out of legal immigration status.

“We are committed to maintaining our ability to host our international students and scholars… who enrich the University and this nation,” Harvard stated in response.

What Happens to Current Students?

According to a letter from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Harvard may not enroll any international students on F-1 or J-1 visas for the upcoming academic year. Students already enrolled must transfer to another SEVP-certified institution to retain their legal status in the U.S.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requires all SEVP-certified schools to track key information about international students, such as their address and academic status. If a school loses certification, affected students typically have a short window to transfer or leave the country.

ICE has also emphasized strict compliance, warning that it will sanction schools that fail to meet their obligations.

Academic and Financial Fallout

The repercussions could be far-reaching for Harvard and beyond. Faculty members are expressing alarm over the potential academic consequences. Some warn that labs and research programs could be hollowed out without international scholars.

“Many labs will empty out,” one professor told CNN.

Jason Furman, a Harvard economist and former advisor to President Obama, didn’t mince words:

“It is impossible to imagine Harvard without our amazing international students. They are a huge benefit to everyone here, to innovation, and to the United States more broadly.”

The policy could also hurt Harvard financially. International students often pay full tuition since they’re typically ineligible for federal aid—an important revenue source. In April, DHS Secretary Noem argued that Harvard “relies heavily on foreign student funding … to build and maintain their substantial endowment.”

University spokesperson Jason Newton warned that the action would inflict “serious harm” on the Harvard community and compromise the school’s educational mission.

What’s Next?

Harvard has vowed to challenge the decision and provide urgent support to its international students. But for now, many questions remain about how quickly the university can respond—and whether the policy will withstand legal scrutiny.

As one of the world’s leading academic institutions finds itself at the center of a political battle, the consequences could ripple across the entire landscape of American higher education.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly attributed a quote about Harvard’s reliance on foreign student funding. It was made by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in April.

The post Harvard Barred from Enrolling International Students: What It Means appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

BOSTON – Harvard University is taking the Trump administration to court after the federal government froze more than $2.2 billion in research funding, a move that Harvard says is political retaliation for refusing to comply with controversial campus reform demands.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Boston, comes after the Trump administration accused Harvard of fostering an environment of unchecked antisemitism following student-led protests over the Israel-Gaza conflict. In response, the administration issued an April 11 ultimatum, pushing for sweeping changes—from admissions policy revisions to stricter protest discipline and a re-evaluation of diversity efforts.

Harvard President Alan Garber refused to comply, citing constitutional protections and academic freedom. Hours later, the administration froze billions in federal research grants, affecting projects that span medical, technological, and scientific innovation.

“There’s no rational link between these antisemitism accusations and the life-saving research they’re targeting,” Harvard argued in its lawsuit. “This is arbitrary, capricious, and a threat to America’s innovation pipeline.”

The Trump administration’s hardline stance aims to shake up what it sees as liberal-dominated academia. Harvard, a longtime symbol of elite education, has now become the test case for federal efforts to force universities to toe a new ideological line—or lose funding.

The White House fired back quickly.

“The gravy train of taxpayer-funded handouts to elite institutions like Harvard is over,” said White House spokesman Harrison Fields. “Federal support is a privilege, not an entitlement.”

The administration also called on Harvard to audit its community for ideological diversity, crack down on protests, stop recognizing certain student groups, and vet international students for alignment with “American values.”

Harvard’s leadership and supporters argue that the administration’s demands violate the First Amendment and overstep the government’s authority. In a message to the university community, Garber said the lawsuit is about more than one school—it’s about protecting the independence of American higher education.

“We stand for the truth that universities can fulfill their roles in society without improper government intrusion,” Garber wrote.

The university’s legal push is also backed by major academic organizations. The American Council on Education, which represents over 1,600 colleges and universities, applauded the lawsuit, calling the freeze “a clear violation of due process and rule of law.”

This case adds to mounting tensions between the Trump administration and academic institutions, particularly those that resist its policies on immigration, free speech, and cultural debates. The administration has increasingly used federal funding—especially research grants—as leverage.

The American Association of University Professors has also filed its own suit, seeking to block the government’s review of Harvard’s funding. Harvard alumna Anurima Bhargava praised the university’s stance, calling it a “refusal to give in to escalating, dangerous demands.”

“This is a reckless attempt at control that puts lifesaving research in jeopardy,” Bhargava said.

Source: AP News – Harvard sues Trump administration to stop the freeze of more than $2 billion in grants

The post Harvard Sues Trump Admin Over $2.2 Billion Grant Freeze appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Half a century ago, a young Bill Gates wrote a piece of code that would change the course of technology forever. Looking back, the Microsoft co-founder still considers it “the coolest code” he ever wrote—one that set the foundation for a tech empire and revolutionized personal computing.

In January 1975, a 19-year-old Gates, then a freshman at Harvard, came across an article in Popular Electronics magazine. The piece introduced the Altair 8800, a minicomputer powered by an Intel microprocessor, marking a pivotal moment in computing history.

Excited by the possibilities, Gates and his high school friend Paul Allen saw an opportunity. They contacted Ed Roberts, the CEO of Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), the company behind the Altair, and boldly claimed they had developed software to run on the new machine. There was just one problem—they hadn’t written it yet.

With no actual Altair 8800 to test on, Gates and Allen had to create their software in the dark, relying on their knowledge of the BASIC programming language developed at Dartmouth in 1964. For two months, they worked tirelessly, often sacrificing sleep, to craft a program that would make the Altair functional.

When the final code was ready, they tested it for the first time—miraculously, it worked. That moment not only marked the beginning of personal computing but also paved the way for the birth of Microsoft in April 1975.

“That was the revolution,” Gates recalled in a recent blog post celebrating the golden anniversary of Microsoft’s founding. “That was the thing that ushered in personal computing.”

The software that Gates and Allen developed became the first operating system for the Altair 8800, proving that personal computers could be accessible to everyday users. This breakthrough led to the creation of Microsoft, a company that would go on to dominate the software industry with products like Windows, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint—tools that remain essential today.

Microsoft’s impact has only grown over the decades. While Gates stepped down as CEO in 2000 to focus on philanthropy, the company has flourished under current CEO Satya Nadella, reaching a staggering market valuation of $2.8 trillion.

At 69, Gates has been in a reflective mood, revisiting his past as he prepares to turn 70 in October. His recent memoir explores his childhood, his early days in computing, and his complex relationship with fellow tech pioneer Steve Jobs, whose company, Apple, will mark its 50th anniversary in 2026.

Fifty years after writing that first game-changing code, Gates remains in awe of how his dream became a reality.

“It’s crazy that the dream came true,” he said.

Source: AP News – Microsoft founder Bill Gates reflects upon a 50-year-old computer code that reshaped technology

The post Bill Gates Looks Back at the Code That Started Microsoft appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.