Federal judge extends order blocking Trump administration ban on foreign students at Harvard

Federal judge extends order blocking Trump admin from barring Harvard foreign students, amid ongoing legal battle.

A federal judge on Thursday (May 29, 2025) extended an order blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to bar Harvard University from enrolling foreign students.

U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs extended the block she imposed last week with a temporary restraining order, which allows the Ivy League school to continue enrolling international students as a lawsuit proceeds.

Harvard sued the Department of Homeland Security on Friday (May 23, 2025) after Secretary Kristi Noem revoked its ability to host foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

"Harvard will continue to take steps to protect the rights of our international students and scholars, members of our community who are vital to the University’s academic mission and community — and whose presence here benefits our country immeasurably,” a university spokesman said in a statement.

On Wednesday (May 28, 2025), the Trump administration introduced a new effort to revoke Harvard's certification to enrol foreign students. In a letter sent by the acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, Todd Lyons, the government gave Harvard 30 days to respond to the alleged grounds for withdrawal, which include accusations that Harvard coordinated with foreign entities and failed to respond sufficiently to antisemitism on campus.

The developments unfolded in a courtroom not far from the Harvard campus, where speakers at Thursday's (May 29, 20250 commencement ceremony stressed the importance of maintaining a diverse and international student body.

The dispute over international enrollment at Harvard is the latest escalation in a battle between the White House and the nation’s oldest and wealthiest college. In April, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sent a letter to the school, demanding a range of records related to foreign students, including discipline records and anything related to “dangerous or violent activity.” Ms. Noem said it was in response to accusations of antisemitism on Harvard’s campus.