In a major rebuke to the White House, a federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s proclamation barring new international students from enrolling at Harvard University, marking a swift legal setback in a high-stakes clash over immigration and academic freedom.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued the emergency restraining order late Thursday, citing the risk of “immediate and irreparable injury” to the university and its international students if the measure were to take effect. The ruling came just hours after Harvard filed an emergency motion challenging the ban.
Trump’s proclamation, signed Wednesday, directed the Secretary of State to suspend visas for incoming foreign students headed to Harvard and consider revoking those of current enrollees.
The administration justified the policy on national security grounds, accusing the university of fostering antisemitism and failing to prevent campus violence.
Harvard’s legal response was unequivocal, describing the measure as a “government vendetta” and an attempt to punish the institution for resisting federal ideological mandates. The university argued that the proclamation violates the First Amendment and undermines academic autonomy.
“Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard,” the lawsuit stated, accusing the administration of using executive power to bypass prior court rulings and target foreign students through new legal channels.
This latest legal fight follows an earlier court victory for Harvard in May, when Judge Burroughs blocked the Department of Homeland Security from revoking the university’s certification to host international students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Harvard contends that Trump’s new order is a thinly veiled attempt to sidestep that ruling.
Harvard President Alan Garber condemned the proclamation as “yet another illegal step taken by the Administration to retaliate against Harvard.” He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to defending the rights of its students and maintaining the integrity of its international academic community.
The broader implications are significant. The case highlights the Trump administration’s escalating tension with elite universities, particularly Harvard, which is also contesting a separate federal order that could strip it of over $2 billion in funding and its tax-exempt status. Hearings in that case are scheduled for next month, also before Judge Burroughs.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the State Department has begun instructing consular officers to conduct heightened scrutiny of Harvard-bound visa applicants, including demanding public access to social media profiles. The lawsuit claims applicants could be denied visas simply for declining to share their social media information or not using social media at all.
Legal and academic experts warn that the administration’s efforts could have a chilling effect on global academic collaboration and tarnish the United States’ leadership in higher education and research.
The temporary restraining order will remain in place until mid-June, when the court will hear full arguments on whether to block the proclamation permanently. As of now, the White House has not stated in response to the ruling.
