Judge halts Trump’s entry ban targeting foreign students at Harvard amid legal fight over visas and university autonomy.

Harvard Wins Temporary Court Relief in Visa Clash

A federal judge issued a temporary injunction Thursday evening blocking the Trump administration’s ban on foreign students enrolling at Harvard University. The ruling came from U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, just hours after Harvard submitted an amended complaint challenging the measure as unconstitutional and unjustified.

More than 7,000 Harvard students currently hold F-1 or J-1 visas, which are essential for them to study, teach, or conduct research in the United States. The administration’s policy, according to the university, would also impact their families and dependents by revoking their eligibility to remain in the country.

In its complaint, Harvard contends the proclamation lacks legal standing and fails to apply uniformly to a broader group of immigrants. “Nonimmigrants may enter the country unabated, as long as they do not attend Harvard,” the filing states. The university argues the move singles out its students, calling it a “government vendetta” rather than a national security measure.

Escalating Tensions Between White House and Ivy League

The conflict intensified in April when a federal task force led by the Trump administration delivered a series of sweeping demands to the university. These included ideological screenings of faculty and students, mandatory viewpoint diversity quotas in admissions and hiring, oversight of internal policies, and reporting of foreign financial contributions. Harvard refused the demands, prompting the government to freeze $2.2 billion in research funding.

President Trump criticized the university on Truth Social, stating that Harvard should lose its tax-exempt status if it continued to “push radical ideology.” He also accused the institution of hiring “woke, Radical Left, idiots” and declared that it was “no longer a great university.”

Soon after, the Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard’s SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certification, effectively blocking it from sponsoring foreign students. That decision was also paused by a federal court. Harvard claims the latest proclamation is an attempt to bypass previous court rulings and continue restricting international enrollment.

The administration maintains that Harvard failed to provide full disclosure about its foreign student population, while the university insists it has complied with all legal reporting requirements. “There is no lawful justification for the government’s unprecedented actions,” Harvard asserted in its latest filing, which also revealed that former special counsel Robert Hur, who previously investigated President Joe Biden, is representing the university in court.

Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary at DHS, defended the administration’s stance, saying the lawsuit “seeks to kneecap the President’s constitutionally vested powers under Article II.” She emphasized, “It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students.”

As litigation continues, international students remain in limbo. Jing, a 23-year-old Chinese graduate student, told the Associated Press, “It is tiring; we all feel numb now.” Yonas Nuguse, a newly accepted student from Ethiopia, added, “I hope the situation is temporary and I can enroll on time.”

The temporary block offers immediate relief, but the broader legal battle over immigration, academic freedom, and presidential power is far from resolved.