A US federal judge has temporarily halted a directive issued under President Donald Trump that sought to block Harvard University from admitting foreign students, in a move widely criticised as political retaliation
Harvard got a temporary win against a controversial presidential order targeting its foreign admissions. The university says the ban is about politics, not national security.
- Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order on the ban.
- She said Harvard would suffer “immediate and irreparable injury” if it took effect.
- The White House claimed the measure was to protect national security.
- Harvard called it a “government vendetta” in an amended lawsuit.
- A quarter of Harvard’s students are foreign nationals.
The Trump administration, through Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, had previously announced the restriction. But the move escalated when the White House formally issued it as a presidential proclamation on Wednesday.
The face-off has been brewing since January, triggered by Harvard’s refusal to comply with federal demands, including scrapping its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes and reporting certain international students. That tension has resulted in delayed visa interviews and revoked student permits.
Harvard vowed to continue fighting the ban, which it believes is an attempt to punish the university for not aligning with Trump’s directives. Judge Burroughs scheduled a hearing for mid-June to determine if the order should be made permanent.
