Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Order Barring Foreign Students from Harvard

A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s latest proclamation that sought to ban foreign nationals from studying or participating in exchange programs at Harvard University. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs granted a two-page temporary restraining order, citing that the directive would cause “immediate and irreparable injury” to Harvard and its international students.

Trump’s proclamation, issued under the guise of national security, aimed to suspend new academic and exchange visas for Harvard students for six months, with a possible extension. The directive also authorized the State Department to consider revoking visas of current international students. Harvard responded by amending an existing lawsuit, arguing that the proclamation violates federal law and Judge Burroughs’ earlier order, which had blocked a similar visa restriction in May.

In its court filing, Harvard argued the measure was retaliatory and unfounded, stating that banning students solely from Harvard undermines national security claims. “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard,” the university asserted.

The Trump administration has escalated legal and political pressure on the university, including freezing federal funding, threatening its nonprofit status, and questioning its foreign affiliations. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had also revoked Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, though that action was swiftly blocked by Judge Burroughs.

The White House, through spokesperson Abigail Jackson, accused Harvard of being a “hotbed of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators,” allegations the university has denied. Burroughs is expected to issue a preliminary injunction soon to protect Harvard’s international student body.

Harvard maintains that Trump’s claims are unsubstantiated and that the administration’s actions are politically motivated, targeting academic freedom and institutional independence.