Federal judge rules against Trump's treatment of Harvard

Occupy Democrats - A federal judge delivers a crushing Friday defeat to Donald Trump by blocking his attempt to ban Harvard University from enrolling international students, calling it a "blatant violation" of the Constitution. And it gets even better... "Revoking Harvard’s certification is unlawful many times over," wrote U.S. District judge Allison Burroughs. "It is a pillar of our constitutional system that the government cannot 'invok[e] legal sanctions and other means of coercion' to police private speech, especially when the government’s treatment is animated by viewpoint discrimination." "The government’s effort to punish the University for its refusal to surrender its academic independence and for its perceived viewpoint is a patent violation of the First Amendment," she added. 

 

The ruling comes after Harvard filed a complaint this morning in Boston federal court, arguing that Trump's ban would have a "devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders." International students constitute roughly 27% of Harvard’s total enrollment. "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," the lawsuit stated. Judge Burroughs stated that the temporary restraining order is necessary because otherwise Harvard "will sustain immediate and irreparable injury before there is an opportunity to hear from all parties." She has set a May 29th hearing to consider a long-term block of Trump's clearly illegal actions. "We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action,” said Harvard's president Alan Garber. "It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams."