Immigration
Judge Rules Trump’s Targeting of Pro-Palestine International Students Unconstitutional, Siding With Harvard AAUP
A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that the Trump administration violated the First Amendment rights of international students and professors who participated in pro-Palestine advocacy, handing a victory to a Harvard faculty group that sued this spring.
Cambridge Commission on Immigration Cautions Against Duplicating Immigration Support Services
Cambridge’s Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship cautioned the city against duplicating non-profit services in a Tuesday meeting, amid a push to increase city-run support for residents amid heightened federal immigration enforcement.
Cambridge’s Biotech Industry Threatened by New H-1B Visa Fee
12,000 international workers uphold Massachusetts’s booming technology and biotech industries — including more than 1,000 workers in Cambridge. But new fees on H-1B visas could soon cripple everything from start-ups to big pharma companies in Kendall Square.
Amid Mass. ICE Crackdown, Cambridge City Council Announces More Immigrant Resources
The Cambridge City Council directed City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 on Monday night to design and implement resources to address emergency immigration incidents in Cambridge, as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement cracks down on the Boston Metro area.
Immigrant Services Expand Support to Adjust to ICE Threats in Allston-Brighton
As the Trump administration conducts a nationwide deportation campaign against undocumented immigrants, long-standing support infrastructure for immigrants in Allston-Brighton is now adapting to a climate of fear after straining to support influxes of immigrants over the past few years.
The Top Issues Defining Cambridge’s City Council Elections
Affordable housing, transportation, and standing up to the Trump administration have risen to the top of voters’ minds in the run-up to the Cambridge municipal elections.
What to Know About Boston’s Mayoral Primary on Tuesday
Incumbent mayor Michelle Wu ’07 faces off against longtime Boston philanthropist Josh Kraft, alongside community activist Domingos DaRosa and former Boston Police officer Robert Cappucci. Of the four hopefuls, the two top-polling candidates will advance to the general election in November.
Trump Administration Targets Boston in Latest Immigration Enforcement Surge
The Trump administration has begun rolling out its next surge of immigration enforcement in Boston, even as the federal government sued the city over a policy limiting police collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
DOJ Sues Boston and Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 Over Sanctuary City Policy
The lawsuit targets a city policy, the Boston Trust Act, which prohibits police from working with ICE on civil immigration enforcement efforts, including prohibiting police officers from asking immigration status, sharing information with ICE, or “performing the functions of an immigration officer.”
Blocked By Trump’s Travel Ban, One Iranian Student Wonders If She Will Ever Make It to Harvard
Rozhan Rasti was admitted to Harvard’s Class of 2029. But she can’t enter the United States — and so far, no lawyers have taken up her case against the proclamation that’s keeping her far from campus.
HKS Cancels Contingency Plan Allowing International Students To Study Online, Citing Low Demand
The Harvard Kennedy School quietly abandoned the launch of HKS Global – a proposed contingency plan offering online classes for international students – while continuing to offer enrollment options in Canada.
Trump Admin Asks Judge To Dismiss Harvard’s Lawsuit Against Threats to International Students
Lawyers for the federal government on Friday moved to dismiss Harvard’s lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s attempts to prevent the University from hosting international students.
DHS Says It Will Not Use May 22 Letter To Revoke Harvard’s SEVP Certification
The Department of Homeland Security will not enforce its May 22 letter revoking Harvard’s certification to host international students, according to a Wednesday court filing — but a longer revocation process remains on the table.
Cambridge City Council Strengthens Sanctuary City Ordinance
The Council voted unanimously to tighten the city’s Welcoming Community Ordinance, a 40-year-old policy limiting cooperation between the Cambridge Police Department and federal law enforcement on immigration-related matters.
Cambridge Plans To File Amicus Brief Supporting Harvard in Lawsuit Over International Students
The City of Cambridge plans to file an amicus brief supporting Harvard’s lawsuit against attempts by President Donald Trump and the Department of Homeland Security to revoke its ability to enroll international students.
Harvard Will Turn Over I-9 Forms for Most University Employees in Response to DHS Inquiry
Harvard will turn over I-9 forms for nearly all employees in response to a subpoena and inspection by the Department of Homeland Security, the University’s human resources office wrote in an email to current and recent employees on Tuesday afternoon.
State Department Launches Investigation Into Harvard’s Participation in J-1 Visa Program
The United States State Department launched an investigation on Wednesday into Harvard’s compliance with the Exchange Visitor Program, which allows universities to sponsor short-term J-1 visas for international instructors, researchers, and certain students.
Trial in AAUP Lawsuit Concludes With Clash Over First Amendment Rights of Noncitizens
Closing arguments for a faculty group’s lawsuit against the Trump administration’s immigration policies concluded on Monday, leaving the judge to sort through evidence from the two-week trial and dozens of sealed records before making a final ruling.
In AAUP Trial, State Dept. Official Says Criticizing Israel Could Be Grounds for Visa Revocation
A senior State Department official testified Friday that some claims and phrases common to pro-Palestine campus advocacy — including criticism of the state of Israel and calls for universities to divest from Israel — all “could be” grounds for revoking a noncitizen’s visa.
DHS Has Shifted Focus to Immigration Cases Since Trump’s Election, Officials Say in AAUP Trial
Three Department of Homeland Security officials testified Tuesday that their department had noticeably shifted its focus from enforcing criminal laws to addressing immigration cases in the months since President Donald Trump’s election.
Harvard AAUP Suit Mired in Dispute Over Government Documents as Trial Nears End
A Harvard faculty group’s lawsuit over the Trump administration’s immigration policies entered its final week of trial on Monday. But as the trial inches closer to its conclusion, it has become mired in a clash over what evidence the government is required to turn over.
As Trial Begins in AAUP Lawsuit, Federal Lawyers Argue ‘Ideological Deportation’ Policy Does Not Exist
As opening arguments began in a lawsuit filed by the American Association of University Professors against the Trump administration, lawyers for the two parties clashed over First Amendment protections for noncitizens.
Harvard Staff Warn International Students of Airport Searches, Social Media Screening
At an information session with more than 500 attendees, Harvard staff told international students to expect tight screening at Boston Logan International Airport and keep a careful handle on their internet presence.
Embassy Cited Nonexistent Law To Deny Incoming Harvard Student’s Visa
A United States embassy in South Asia denied an incoming Harvard College freshman their visa on Tuesday, citing a nonexistent section of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Trump Administration Appeals Preliminary Injunction Blocking Entry Ban on Harvard Visa Holders
Lawyers for federal agencies on Friday appealed a judge’s temporary block on Donald Trump’s proclamation banning travelers from entering the United States on Harvard-sponsored F and J visas, sending the case to the First Circuit Court of Appeals.