A federal judge has blocked a controversial policy backed by former President Donald Trump that sought to restrict international student enrollment at Harvard University, marking a significant victory for academic freedom and global access to U.S. education. The proposed policy, which aimed to limit student visas under the justification of national interest, would have effectively barred thousands of international students from attending prestigious institutions like Harvard. The judge ruled that the policy was “arbitrary and capricious” and could cause irreparable harm to educational institutions and the students they serve. Harvard, which enrolls students from over 150 countries, had strongly opposed the move, arguing that global diversity is essential to its academic mission. The court’s decision ensures that international students can continue their education in the U.S., preserving one of the nation’s most powerful tools of global influence—its universities.