US Judge Blocks Trump Move From Revoking Harvard Enrollments of Foreign Student
A US federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University’s authority to enroll foreign students, issuing a temporary restraining order after the prestigious institution warned the move would devastate its student body and violate the Constitution.
US District Judge Allison Burroughs issued the restraining order hours after Harvard filed an emergency lawsuit in federal court. The Ivy League university argued that the government’s action would erase nearly 7,000 international students from its rolls, constituting nearly 27% of total enrollment.
“This is a blatant violation of constitutional protections and federal law,” Harvard wrote in its complaint. The university added that the Trump administration’s decision would upend academic programs and research just days before graduation.
The revocation, set to take effect in the 2025-2026 academic year, was announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who accused Harvard of fostering antisemitism and “coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.” The administration demanded Harvard provide extensive documentation on international student protest activity within 72 hours.
Judge Burroughs, an Obama-era appointee, said the order was necessary to prevent “immediate and irreparable harm” to students and the institution. The case now awaits a full hearing.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed the lawsuit as “frivolous,” accusing Harvard of failing to act against “anti-American and pro-terrorist agitators” on campus. “If only Harvard cared this much about campus safety,” she said in a statement.
In a letter to the Harvard community, university president Alan Garber said the action was part of a campaign to “coerce institutions of higher learning to conform to political ideology.”
“We have complied with federal law at every stage,” Garber wrote. “This attempt to assert political control over our curriculum and community is unlawful and threatens the very core of academic freedom.”
The Trump administration’s move is part of a larger effort to align independent institutions — including media, law firms, and universities — with its agenda. Similar pressure has reportedly been applied to Columbia University, which reformed its curriculum under funding threats, and to law firms representing Trump opponents.
Harvard had previously sued the federal government to restore $3 billion in frozen research grants. Law firms WilmerHale and Susman Godfrey have also joined legal efforts to resist executive overreach.
International students, faculty, and alumni have voiced alarm on social media. “This could affect lives, careers, and global research collaborations,” tweeted a Harvard doctoral student from India. The university warned the revocation would cause widespread academic disruption and violate First Amendment protections.
