A federal choose in Boston has prolonged a short lived restraining order blocking President Donald Trump’s proclamation that aimed to bar worldwide college students from coming into the US to attend Harvard College, marking one other setback within the administration’s ongoing feud with the Ivy League establishment. U.S. District Decide Allison D. Burroughs prolonged the order on June 16, 2025, making certain that Harvard can proceed enrolling worldwide college students whereas authorized proceedings proceed. The block, initially set to run out, will now stay in impact till not less than Monday, June 23, 2025, because the courtroom considers arguments for a preliminary injunction.
The Trump administration’s proclamation, issued on June 4, 2025, invoked the Immigration and Nationality Act to ban overseas nationals from coming into the U.S. to check at Harvard for not less than six months, citing nationwide safety issues and alleging that Harvard had “in depth entanglements with overseas international locations” and failed to deal with antisemitism and campus crime. Harvard, which enrolls almost 7,000 worldwide college students—about 27% of its pupil physique—filed an amended lawsuit on June 5, arguing that the ban was an unconstitutional act of retaliation for the college’s refusal to adjust to the administration’s calls for, together with turning over detailed information of its worldwide college students. The college known as the transfer a “authorities vendetta” that violated its First Modification rights and misrepresented nationwide safety dangers, because the ban solely utilized to Harvard and to not the identical college students attending different establishments.
Decide Burroughs, who first blocked an analogous Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) motion on Might 23, 2025, dominated that Trump’s proclamation would trigger “speedy and irreparable harm” to Harvard and its college students. She expressed skepticism in regards to the administration’s claims, noting throughout a listening to that the problems cited, reminiscent of campus security, weren’t distinctive to Harvard. “I can’t think about that something that you simply simply described applies solely to Harvard,” Burroughs mentioned, questioning the federal government’s justification. Harvard’s legal professionals, led by Ian Gershengorn, argued that the proclamation was an unprecedented try to manage home establishments, declaring that the administration’s actions appeared to focus on Harvard’s educational independence and perceived political stance.
The authorized battle has brought about important uncertainty for Harvard’s worldwide college students, who make up a essential a part of the college’s analysis and educational group. College students like Alfred Williamson, a first-year pupil from Wales, have expressed concern and confusion, with some canceling journey plans or in search of alternate options overseas because of the risk of visa revocations. The administration’s broader marketing campaign in opposition to Harvard, together with freezing over $2.2 billion in federal grants and threatening to revoke its tax-exempt standing, has intensified the stakes. Harvard President Alan Garber emphasised the college’s dedication to defending its worldwide college students, stating, “With out its worldwide college students, Harvard will not be Harvard.”
The prolonged block has drawn combined reactions. Supporters of the ruling, together with some X customers, celebrated it as a victory for educational freedom, with posts calling it “one other loss in courtroom for Trump.” Others, like DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, doubled down, accusing Harvard of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese language Communist Social gathering.” The administration has indicated it could pursue different avenues to limit Harvard’s worldwide enrollment, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying plans to boost visa vetting for Harvard college students.
Because the case strikes ahead, Harvard is growing contingency plans to assist its worldwide college students and students. The following listening to, set for June 23, 2025, will decide whether or not the block turns into a preliminary injunction, probably providing longer-term reduction. For now, the ruling gives a reprieve for 1000’s of scholars and reinforces Harvard’s defiance in opposition to what it calls an “escalating marketing campaign of retaliation” by the Trump administration.
