A federal judge has stopped President Donald Trump’s order that would have prevented Harvard University from accepting international students.
The ruling came after a heated legal back-and-forth between the Trump administration and Harvard officials over the rights of foreign students and the university’s autonomy.
The ruling, made by Judge Allison Burroughs, issued a temporary restraining order against the policy. Judge Burroughs noted that the proposed executive action could cause “immediate and irreparable injury” to the university and its community if allowed to take effect.
The Trump administration had introduced the ban as a six-month restriction, stating it was important for national security.
Officials argued that Harvard had not done enough to handle rising concerns about antisemitism on campus and claimed the school had deep connections with foreign governments. They also said the policy was necessary to protect the civil rights of both faculty and students.
However, Harvard pushed back, accusing the administration of punishing the university for using its First Amendment rights. On Thursday, Harvard filed an updated lawsuit challenging the order, which quickly led to the judge’s decision to block it.
Harvard President Alan Garber responded to the legal win by saying the university had been working on backup plans to help international students if the ban had gone into effect. “We are doing everything we can to support our students, no matter where they come from,” he said.
This legal battle is part of a larger dispute between the federal government and Harvard. Earlier this year, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked the university’s ability to host international students — a move that the courts also put on hold.
For the 2024-2025 academic year, Harvard has nearly 7,000 students from outside the United States. These international students represent 27% of the school’s total enrollment.
