New Grads Relieved After Judge Extends Harvard’s Block on DHS Order Mid-Commencement

As new graduates and their families left Tercentenary Theatre at the end of Commencement and turned their cellphones back on, they were met with news that a federal judge had extended a block on the Trump administration’s attempt to cut off Harvard’s ability to enroll international students.

Though many attendees had not taken in the details of the ruling, which was announced in a hearing in Boston midway through novelist Abraham Verghese’s address, they said they were glad to hear Harvard’s international students were receiving further relief.

Haroon Hyder, a Harvard School of Public Health graduate, said it was “common sense” to protect international students since they are “what makes Harvard great.”

“We are all a nation of immigrants,” Hyder said. “We can’t forget that.”

Several graduates praised the Commencement speakers for taking stances against the Trump administration. Verghese, the acclaimed author and physician who delivered the Commencement address, blasted Trump for the “cascade of draconian government measures” his administration has imposed.

“In a subtle way that didn’t ruffle anyone’s feathers, they all did a good job of showing that Harvard is committed to the fight, and defending our students and the fight,” Salaidh A. Perez ’25 said.

​​—Staff writer William C. Mao can be reached at william.mao@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @williamcmao.

—Staff writer Akshaya Ravi can be reached at akshaya.ravi@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @akshayaravi22.