Trump's latest action against Harvard has put even a princess on tenterhooks

The Donald Trump administration’s move barring the prestigious Harvard University from enrolling foreign students has put even the Belgian royal family on tenterhooks, as the Princess of the European country, Elisabeth, first in line for the throne, is staring at an uncertain academic future due to the ban.

Speaking to news agency Reuters, a spokesperson of the Belgian Royal Palace said they are currently looking into the evolving situation.

"Princess Elisabeth has just completed her first year. The impact of (the Trump administration's) decision will only become clearer in the coming days/weeks. We are currently investigating the situation," the Belgian Royal Palace's spokesperson Lore Vandoorne said, as quoted by Reuters.

The Palace's communication director, Xavier Baert, they are waiting for the situation to stabilise adding that a lot can change in the coming weeks.

Also Read: Harvard sues Trump administration over ban on enrolling foreign students

What’s Elisabeth’s concern?

According to media reports, Princess Elisabeth, 23, the future Queen of Belgium, is the eldest of the four children born to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. Before enrolling at Harvard to pursue her Master's degree in public policy, she got a degree in history and politics from Oxford University in the UK.

As per the directives of the Trump administration, international students, already enrolled in Harvard, will need to be transferred to other schools, failing which they will lose their legal status in the US.

Also Read: What does Trump's crackdown on Harvard University mean for foreign students?

Stay order by US court

However, following a lawsuit by the Harvard University filed on Friday, US District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a stay on the Trump administration’s directive.

The stay order has paused a move by the Department of Homeland Security made on Thursday that revoked Harvard's access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a government database on foreign students, reported BBC.

Harvard's legal challenge

Challenging the Trump administration’s order, Harvard University in its lawsuit argued that it was a “blatant violation” of the right to free speech and in violation of law. It further stated that the order would have an “immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders” adding that 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.”

“Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard,” stated the University as quoted by multiple media reports.

Also Read: Trump administration bars Harvard from enrolling foreign students

White House slams Harvard, judge

White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson dismissed the University’s arguments. "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,” she said as quoted by the BBC.

Following the stay order by the court, Jackson alleged that the judge had a “liberal agenda.” "These unelected judges have no right to stop the Trump Administration from exercising their rightful control over immigration policy and national security policy," she said as quoted by BBC.