Judge temporarily blocks Trump's Harvard entry ban on new foreign students
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A glimpse into the Harvard University campus on May 24, 2025 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Photo: Zhu Ziyu/VCG via Getty Images
A federal judge temporarily blocked President Trump's proclamation that suspended the entry of international students seeking to attend Harvard University.
Why it matters: U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs' temporary restraining order marks the latest legal blow for Trump in his attempt to strip Harvard of its ability to host international students amid a weeks-long legal battle with the Ivy League school.
The latest: In the ruling, the Obama-appointed Burroughs extended her earlier temporary restraining order blocking the Department of Homeland Security's move to revoke Harvard's ability to host international students until June 20.
- DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a Thursday night emailed statement said the ruling "delays justice and seeks to kneecap the President's constitutionally vested powers" under Article II of the Executive Branch.
Driving the news: Harvard argued in Thursday's filing, which amends an existing lawsuit, that Trump's proclamation violates the First Amendment.
- The university alleges that the president's actions "are not undertaken to protect the interests of the United States," but instead to pursue a government vendetta against Harvard."
- "With the stroke of a pen, the DHS Secretary and the President have sought to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission and the country," the university's amended complaint states.
- "Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard."
What they're saying: Harvard President Alan Garber said in a message to the campus community that the university is working on contingency plans to ensure international students can continue their work at Harvard.
- "International students and scholars make outstanding contributions inside and outside of our classrooms and laboratories, fulfilling our mission of excellence in countless ways," he said.
- "We will celebrate them, support them, and defend their interests as we continue to assert our Constitutional rights."
The other side: "It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments; that fact hasn't changed," McLaughlin said.
- "The Trump administration is committed to restoring common sense to our student visa system, and we expect a higher court to vindicate us in this. We have the law, the facts, and common sense on our side."
- Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment Thursday evening.
State of play: Trump suspended the entry of international students to attend Harvard through an executive order on Wednesday.
- He ordered cabinet officials to determine whether international students at Harvard who are in the U.S. should have their student visas revoked.
- The suspension was expected to last at least 90 days, per the order.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's order to DHS to terminate Harvard's student and exchange visitor program certification has stalled in the courts.
More from Axios:
- Trump suspends entry to Harvard's international students
- Foreign students consider fleeing Harvard after Trump threats, university says
- Trump admin nixes Harvard's ability to enroll international students
Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
