Judge Blocks Trump’s Ban on Harvard’s International Students
A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to bar international students from entering the U.S. to study at Harvard University. Judge Allison Burroughs issued the ruling just hours after Harvard filed an amended lawsuit claiming the move was retaliation for resisting the administration’s attempts to influence the school’s curriculum and governance. The judge agreed the university would face "immediate and irreparable injury" if the ban took effect.
Trump’s announcement on Wednesday referenced national security concerns and accused Harvard of “extensive entanglements with foreign adversaries,” claiming the university hadn’t done enough to prevent antisemitism or share information on foreign students’ activities. However, Harvard argued that the ban wasn’t about security but a political attack, pointing out that foreign students were allowed in the U.S. “as long as they do not attend Harvard.” The school also noted that over a quarter of its student body comes from outside the U.S.
Harvard President Alan Garber said the administration was targeting the university for its global partnerships and international student population. “Singling out our institution for its enrolment of international students and its collaboration with other educational institutions around the world is yet another illegal step taken by the administration to retaliate against Harvard.” The school is now preparing contingency plans for affected students.
