Federal judge blocks Trump admin. from barring foreign student enrollment at Harvard

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has blocked a Trump administration decision to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. The temporary restraining order stops the government from pulling Harvard’s certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows the school to sponsor international students as they obtain visas to study in the U.S. Harvard filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts earlier Friday. In its lawsuit, Harvard said the government’s action violates the First Amendment and will have an “immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders.”

DHS continues releasing people to shelters after threat of prosecution for migrant smuggling

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — The Trump administration has been releasing people charged with being in the country illegally to nongovernmental shelters along the U.S. border with Mexico after telling those organizations that providing migrants with temporary housing and other aid may violate a law used to prosecute smugglers. Border shelters have long provided lodging, meals and transportation to a bus station or airport. Many were rattled by a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency demanding information in a wide-ranging investigation into potential migrant smuggling. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has continued releasing people to at least four shelters in Texas and Arizona.

Trump’s team proposes 6-month waiver as a first step in easing sanctions on Syria

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s advisers are proposing that he grant Syria a temporary waiver from one crippling set of sanctions as well as ease restrictions on businesses as a first step in his pledge to end a half-century of penalties. That’s according to two U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. They said the announcements on the first phase of U.S. sanctions relief could come as soon as Friday or on Tuesday, after Memorial Day. In addition to a six-month waiver on a tough set of sanctions imposed by Congress, officials say there’s also support for broadening Treasury Department rules setting out what foreign businesses can do in Syria.

Suspect in arson at Pa. governor’s official residence to seek delay in next court hearing

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A man accused of trying to burn down Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence is seeking to delay his next court appearance because he’s receiving mental health treatment. Cody Balmer’s lawyer said Friday that his hearing scheduled for Wednesday will be postponed to ensure he’s mentally fit when he appears in court. The hearing was scheduled to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to take the case to trial. Balmer is currently being held at a state prison with a mental health unit. Balmer’s mother and brother say he suffers from mental illness, something that Balmer denied in one brief court appearance. Authorities say Balmer expressed hatred for Shapiro.