Federal Judge Sides with Harvard, Blocks Trump’s Move Against International Student Program

A federal judge has indefinitely blocked the Trump administration from stripping Harvard University of its ability to host international students and scholars, granting a major win for the Ivy League school as legal battles continue.

U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs on Friday issued a preliminary injunction, cementing a temporary halt she’d granted last month after the administration revoked Harvard’s participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This program allows schools to enroll international students, who make up about 25% of Harvard’s student body.

This decision follows mounting tension after President Trump issued a proclamation to suspend visas for new international students. Burroughs already paused that order earlier this month and is currently reviewing whether to extend that block indefinitely.

The ruling doesn’t stop the federal government from conducting regulatory reviews. As Judge Burroughs wrote, “Defendants are not precluded by this Order from reviewing Plaintiff’s compliance with (federal regulations)… or from issuing routine requests for information and documents.”

The administration’s initial move in May to cut Harvard from the SEVP triggered a swift lawsuit. Harvard argued that officials bypassed proper procedures. At the time, federal officials had also accused the university of failing to address antisemitism and called for it to scrap “racist ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ practices.”

Just before the court hearing, the administration pivoted—giving Harvard a month to challenge the move, a shift seen as an attempt to stall the case.

Burroughs, an Obama appointee, made clear that the original revocation “shall have no force or effect” while the case proceeds.