Judge Blocks Trump’s Ban on Harvard’s International Students, Citing Constitutional Concerns
BOSTON, MA — June 5, 2025 A federal judge in Massachusetts has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's executive order that barred international students from entering the United States to study at Harvard University. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued the injunction in response to Harvard's lawsuit, which argued that the ban would cause "immediate and irreparable harm" to the institution and its students.
The Trump administration’s directive, announced earlier in the week, suspended new student visas for Harvard-bound international students for six months, citing national security concerns and alleged antisemitism on campus. The order also threatened to revoke existing visas and freeze over $2 billion in federal research funding unless Harvard complied with demands to share detailed records about its foreign students and campus activities.
Harvard contends that the administration's actions are retaliatory and violate constitutional protections, including the First Amendment. The university has emphasized the critical role international students play in its academic community, noting that they comprise nearly 27% of its student body.
Judge Burroughs' ruling allows Harvard to continue enrolling international students under its existing Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification while the legal challenge proceeds. The court has scheduled a hearing for June 20 to further assess the case.
This legal development marks a significant moment in the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and higher education institutions, highlighting broader concerns about academic freedom, immigration policy, and the global reputation of U.S. universities.