Kenyan Students Saved After Trump Blocked From Stopping Harvard Enrolling Foreign Students
The decision follows a lawsuit filed by Harvard, marking the latest chapter in an ongoing conflict between the White House and the prestigious institution.
Marvin Chege 
A judge in the United States (US) has granted a temporary restraining order halting the President Donald Trump administration’s effort to revoke Harvard University’s authority to admit international students, including those from Kenya.
The decision follows a lawsuit filed by Harvard, marking the latest chapter in an ongoing conflict between the White House and the prestigious institution.
In its legal filing, Harvard argued that the administration’s move was a “blatant violation” of both the law and the university’s free speech rights.
The Trump administration, however, has accused Harvard of failing to adequately address antisemitism and reform its hiring and admissions policies—claims the university has firmly rejected.
Harvard University in the United States. /AXIOS
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order in a brief ruling on Friday, May 23, an order which puts on hold a decision made by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday to strip Harvard of its access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a federal system that oversees international students.
"With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission," Harvard argued in the lawsuit.
"We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action," Harvard President Alan Garber said in a letter, adding "The revocation continues a series of government actions to retaliate against Harvard for our refusal to surrender our academic independence and to submit to the federal government's illegal assertion of control over our curriculum, our faculty, and our student body."
In response, White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson said: "If only Harvard cared this much about ending the scourge of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators on their campus they wouldn't be in this situation to begin with.
"Harvard should spend their time and resources on creating a safe campus environment instead of filing frivolous lawsuits."
Harvard University currently hosts approximately 6,800 international students, accounting for over 27% of its total enrolment this year.
Kenya has a notable legacy of representation at the Ivy League institution, with distinguished alumni such as former Central Bank Governor Patrick Njoroge and Supreme Court Justice Njoki Ndung’u among its graduates.
While the current number of Kenyan students at Harvard is unclear, data shows that there were 48 Kenyan students enrolled in 2014, a figure that declined to 35 by 2018.
Harvard University significantly depends on revenue from international students, who represent nearly a third of its student population. Many of these students pay full tuition, unlike domestic students who often benefit from scholarships and financial aid.
For instance, tuition alone at Harvard Law School amounts to $80,760 (Ksh10.4 million) per year. When factoring in housing, meals, insurance, and other expenses, the total annual cost can reach approximately $120,000 (Ksh15.5 million).
The Trump administration has intensified scrutiny of Harvard and other top-tier universities, criticizing them not only for allegedly failing to rein in pro-Palestinian activism but also for purportedly marginalizing conservative perspectives. Investigations have been launched into numerous institutions, with the administration securing policy changes from universities such as Columbia in New York.
In April, the federal government froze $2.2 billion (Ksh284.4 billion) in funding to Harvard and threatened to revoke its tax-exempt status, a common designation for U.S. educational institutions. This action triggered an earlier lawsuit from Harvard, seeking judicial intervention against the administration’s measures.
Harvard, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of the eight prestigious Ivy League universities. The escalating conflict has left many international students at Harvard anxious about their future, fearing they may be forced to leave the country.
Under the new directive, set to be enforced during the 2025–2026 academic year, these students may have to transfer to other institutions to maintain their legal immigration status in the U.S.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has accused Harvard of inciting violence, promoting antisemitism, and collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party—allegations the university strongly denies.
