Topline
A federal judge late on Wednesday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s order to ban the entry of Harvard’s international students into the U.S., dealing the latest legal blow to the president’s bid to crack down on the university’s ability to enroll students from abroad.
Harvard University accused President Donald Trump of pursuing “a government vendetta” against the … More
Key Facts
Federal judge Allison Burroughs granted Harvard’s request and issued a temporary restraining order preventing the implementation and enforcement of Trump’s proclamation “effective immediately.”
The judge also extended an earlier order blocking the Trump administration’s bid to revoke Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, which allows it to enroll international students on visas.
In her latest ruling, Burroughs said the proclamation blocking the entry of international students would cause “immediate and irreparable injury” before there was an opportunity for courts to hear the case.
In an amended filing before the judge, Harvard argued that the presidential proclamation was not intended to protect the “interests of the United States” but rather an effort by Trump to “pursue a government vendetta” against the Ivy League school.
The university noted the order would prevent the entry into the U.S. of “thousands of international students scheduled to come to campus” and put “a quarter of Harvard’s current student body” at an “imminent risk” of deportation.
Crucial Quote
“With the stroke of a pen, the DHS Secretary and the President have sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body—international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission and the country,” the school said in its amended filing. “With no basis in law, the Proclamation denies thousands of Harvard’s students the right to come to this country to pursue their education and follow their dreams, and it denies Harvard the right to teach them. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”
Key Background
In a proclamation signed on Wednesday night, Trump suspended the entry into the U.S. for any new Harvard University student or researcher under the F, M, or J student and exchange visitor visas. The president also ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “consider revoking existing F, M, or J visas” for Harvard’s international students already in the U.S. The White House claimed the move was being undertaken to address a national security issue. In its statement announcing of the President’s order, the White House outlined a multitude of grievances with Harvard, including allegations that foreign adversaries were taking advantage of “easy access to American higher education to steal information, exploit research and development, and spread false information.” The statement also cited Harvard’s refusal to share disciplinary records for all foreign students and said these issues have “compelled the Federal government to conclude that Harvard University is no longer a trustworthy steward of international student and exchange visitor programs.”
Big Number
6,793. That is the number of international students enrolled at Harvard during the 2024-25 academic year, according to the university. This accounts for more than 27% of the university’s student population.
Further Reading
Harvard Calls Out ‘Illegal Retaliatory Step’ As Trump Bars International Students’ Entry (Forbes)
Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Banning International Students At Harvard (Forbes)
Harvard Barred From Enrolling International Students By Trump Administration (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2025/06/06/federal-judge-pauses-trumps-effort-to-ban-entry-of-harvards-international-students/