Overview

• On June 6, the State Department issued a diplomatic cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructing all consular posts worldwide to resume processing visas for Harvard University students and exchange visitors in accordance with the temporary restraining order.
• U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued the TRO late last week, blocking President Trump’s proclamation that sought to ban new international students at Harvard pending further litigation.
• The Trump administration originally cited national security concerns for the visa restrictions and has concurrently frozen billions in research grants and proposed revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status.
• Harvard argues that the administration’s actions amount to retaliation for the university’s refusal to yield to demands over its governance, curriculum and faculty ideology.
• Despite the resumption for Harvard applicants, enhanced social media vetting and other visa scrutiny measures remain in effect as the legal battle continues.