Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Ban on Harvard’s International Students Amid Legal Battle

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Just hours after Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for revoking its right to enrol international students, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order halting the policy. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, appointed by former President Barack Obama, sided with Harvard on May 23, stating the policy would cause “immediate and irreparable injury” to the university.

The restraining order takes effect immediately and remains in place while the court considers a broader injunction, with a hearing scheduled for May 29. Harvard’s complaint, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, argues that the administration’s decision violates the First Amendment, Due Process Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act. In a message to the university, President Alan Garber condemned the action as “unlawful and unwarranted,” warning it jeopardises the futures of thousands of students and undermines the mission of American higher education.

The dispute escalated after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem notified Harvard on May 22 that its participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program was terminated, requiring all international students to transfer or leave the country. She claimed the university failed to meet reporting obligations—a claim Harvard disputes, saying it complied with federal requirements and provided extensive data on its F-1 visa holders.

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Harvard attorneys noted that Noem’s demand for extensive disciplinary records was unprecedented and outside legal bounds. The move is seen as the most severe action in the Trump administration’s ongoing tensions with the university, which is also facing scrutiny over its tax-exempt status and access to federal research funding.

With international students comprising about 25% of Harvard’s student body—nearly 7,000 individuals—the ban threatens the university’s academic and cultural fabric. Many affected students are now in limbo just days before graduation.