Boston, June 7: A U.S. federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s latest executive order targeting foreign students affiliated with Harvard University, marking a legal reprieve for the institution amid an escalating clash with the administration over immigration and academic freedom.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order halting enforcement of the presidential proclamation, which barred entry to international students and researchers connected to Harvard. The judge said the university would face “immediate and irreparable injury” if the order took effect.
The decision is the latest development in Harvard’s ongoing legal battle with the Trump administration, which has increasingly scrutinized the university’s handling of international scholars. The administration claimed Harvard refused to disclose information about alleged misconduct involving foreign students, citing national security concerns.
President Trump issued the new proclamation on Wednesday, following a May decision by his administration to revoke Harvard’s authority to sponsor student visas. The executive action drew swift legal opposition from Harvard, which argued the moves were politically motivated and would severely damage its academic operations.
Harvard President Alan Garber said the university was preparing contingency plans to ensure international students and researchers could continue their work during the summer and upcoming academic year.
While Judge Burroughs had previously blocked the government’s attempt to remove Harvard from the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program, Thursday’s ruling represents a broader setback to the administration’s immigration agenda as it pertains to elite academic institutions.
Legal analysts say the case could make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which in 2018 upheld a presidential travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority nations, affirming the executive branch’s broad authority over immigration policy. The Trump administration has not yet indicated whether it will appeal Judge Burroughs’ ruling.
