Judge blocks Trump admin’s attempt to bar foreign students from Harvard

US District Judge Allison Burroughs issued the ruling on Monday, granting Harvard's request for a temporary restraining order that halts the Department of Homeland Security from revoking the university’s certification to host foreign students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Without this certification, Harvard would be unable to enroll international students or issue the paperwork required for their student visas—effectively forcing nearly 7,000 students to leave the country or face legal jeopardy.

In her decision, Burroughs said the government’s actions appeared to target Harvard because of its perceived opposition to the administration’s policies and rhetoric. “The government’s misplaced efforts to control a reputable academic institution and squelch diverse viewpoints… threaten these rights,” she wrote.

The judge found that Harvard had demonstrated a likelihood of immediate and irreparable harm, noting that the university’s ability to function as a global academic leader would be severely undermined without its international student population.

The Trump administration has been at odds with Harvard for months, demanding the university make sweeping changes to its governance, faculty hiring, admissions process, and handling of campus protests following almost two years of rampant antisemitism on campus.

In recent weeks, the administration has cut more than $2.6 billion in research funding, canceled multiple federal contracts, and threatened to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status. Officials also launched a broad investigation into foreign students, demanding extensive records and alleging possible national security concerns.

Harvard maintains that it complied with the request for records but argues that the administration's punitive measures constitute illegal retaliation for the university’s refusal to overhaul its policies according to White House demands. The university sued the Department of Homeland Security in May, calling the actions unconstitutional and politically motivated.

President Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Harvard as a liberal stronghold, defended the administration’s moves in a post on Truth Social, suggesting that a deal with the university might be forthcoming. He claimed the school had shown “a commitment to doing what is right” during ongoing negotiations.

Despite those claims, Harvard has remained defiant. University President Alan Garber said that while Harvard is committed to addressing antisemitism and maintaining a safe and inclusive environment, it will not abandon its legally protected principles under political pressure. “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard,” the university wrote in its legal filings.