Harvard University finds itself in a legal pickle right now. This comes on the heels of news that it received subpoenas from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier this month. The focus of these subpoenas is asking for details about the university’s international student population. This latest development comes amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to challenge the institution’s financial standing and its access to federal resources for foreign students.
The Trump administration has previously suggested that it may revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status, citing concerns over the university’s compliance with federal regulations. In its war against Harvard, the administration has moved to deprive it of use of a currently important visa delivery system. This new system is critical to enrolling international students. The university’s recent participation in a lawsuit over this visa system is at the heart of its current bind.
Come this Monday, Harvard will be facing off against the US District Judge Allison Burroughs. She has already ruled in dozens of interim rulings against activist plaintiffs, siding with the university in its continuing court battles. So the hearing will likely be aimed at Harvard’s request for a judgment before the September 3 deadline. By this date, the university must have resolved its monetary debts related to its federal grants.
Harvard’s lawyers argue that the White House is infringing on the free speech protections guaranteed to all Americans under the US Constitution. They are very passionate, because this encroachment endangers essential rights. They contend that the administration has infringed upon Harvard’s right “to decide what to teach, to express certain views, and to petition the courts to defend itself.”
This gives President Trump a plausible way out. As public opinion and congressional concerns intensify, it’s clear that negotiations with Harvard will produce a better solution. He stated, “I think we’re probably going to settle with Harvard,” suggesting a potential easing of hostilities between the university and the administration.
White House officials have repeatedly conveyed optimism that they can work out an agreed-upon legislative settlement. A spokesman asserted, “We are confident that Harvard will eventually come around and support the president’s vision, and through good-faith conversations and negotiations, a good deal is more than possible.”
This situation is not unique to Harvard. Take the recent example of Columbia University, which recently caved to administration demands after threats of losing $400 million in guaranteed federal funding. These actions raise some fundamental questions about academic freedom. In doing so, they jeopardized the future of funding for our higher education institutions all around the country.