A federal judge Friday quickly moved to block President Trump’s effort to ban Harvard University from enrolling international students and revoke their visas.
District Court Judge Allison Burroughs ruled that Harvard made a “sufficient showing” that it would be hurt by the administration’s effort to revoke its certification to host foreign students, potentially ousting up to 7,000 students and financially crippling the prestigious Ivy League institution.
“It will sustain immediate and irreparable harm before all parties have an opportunity to be heard,” Burroughs wrote in a terse two-page order.
The lightning-quick ruling came just hours after Harvard sued to prevent Trump’s Department of Homeland Security from yanking its certification under the federally administered Student Exchange and Visitor Program.
Harvard said the government’s action violates the First Amendment and will have an “immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and 7,000 (students).”
“With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission,” Harvard said in its suit. “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”
The move from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem dramatically escalated Trump’s feud with Harvard, which has resisted his effort to impose new government oversight over teaching, hiring and campus governance in an effort to stamp out diversity programs and campus protests like the ones against Israel’s war in Gaza.
“Harvard’s gonna have to change its ways, some others too,” Trump said. “We don’t want troublemakers here.”
The order instantly threw the campus into disarray days before graduation. International students who run labs, teach courses, assist professors and participate in Harvard sports are now left deciding whether to transfer or risk losing legal status to stay in the country, according to the filing.
The impact is heaviest at graduate schools such as the Harvard Kennedy School, where almost half the student body comes from abroad, and Harvard Business School, which is about one-third international.
DHS announced the action Thursday, accusing Harvard of creating an unsafe campus environment by allowing “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” to assault Jewish students on campus. It also accused Harvard of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.
It warned other universities to toe the Trump line or risk similar action.
President Alan Garber said Harvard has made changes to address campus antisemitism but would not budge on its “its core, legally-protected principles” over fears of retaliation.
Originally Published: May 23, 2025 at 1:22 PM EDT
