Judge Quickly Blocks Trump Order After Reviewing Harvard Lawsuit

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Decision on Harvard

A federal judge issued a ruling on Friday that prevents the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University’s ability to host international students.

Earlier, on Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the cancellation of Harvard’s accreditation for the Student and Exchange Visitors Program (SEVP). This move meant that both new and current foreign students were at risk of having to either transfer or risk losing their legal status in the U.S. However, following a lawsuit filed by Harvard on Friday morning, a federal district judge granted a temporary restraining order to pause this decision.

The judge’s order indicated that Harvard has demonstrated that proceeding with the government’s actions could result in “immediate and irreparable injuries.”

Judge Allison D. Burrows, who was appointed by Obama, issued this order. She previously upheld Harvard’s admissions policy, which the Supreme Court later found to violate anti-discrimination laws based on race.

Harvard argued that the university’s identity is inextricably linked to its international student body. Currently, international students make up over a quarter of its enrollment for the 2024-2025 academic year, totaling about 6,793 individuals.

Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, commented on the ruling, suggesting that it undermines the president’s constitutional authority. She expressed the view that universities should not be entitled to financial benefits from international students while contributing billions to the economy.

The DHS had accused Harvard of fostering a “toxic campus climate” by allegedly permitting anti-Semitic behavior and failing to disclose foreign funding accurately. In response, Harvard denied these claims, asserting that it is actively addressing such issues and viewed the government’s actions as a form of retaliation against the university.

Harvard previously declined the Trump administration’s request to combat anti-Semitism, insisting on its right to academic freedom. Following this, the administration threatened to cut federal funding to the institution.

A survey released in September 2024 criticized Harvard for not imposing sufficient penalties on nearly 70 students involved in protests during a campus encampment earlier that year.