In a heated legal showdown between Harvard University and the Trump administration, a federal judge has granted a short-term extension on an order preventing the U.S. government from enforcing a ban on international students at the prestigious school.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, based in Boston, extended the temporary restraining order (TRO) to June 23, giving herself additional time to consider whether to issue a more permanent injunction. The TRO had originally been set to expire this Thursday, and Harvard is pushing for a preliminary injunction that would offer long-term protection as the legal battle continues.
The case stems from a June 4 proclamation signed by former President Donald Trump, which would suspend the entry of foreign nationals to study at Harvard or participate in its exchange visitor programs. The administration cited “national security concerns” as justification, accusing the university of being an unreliable partner due to its acceptance of foreign funding and lack of cooperation on campus unrest.
Harvard, in its lawsuit, claims the ban is politically motivated and unconstitutional. Attorney Ian Gershengorn, representing the university, argued that Trump’s order is retaliation for Harvard’s refusal to conform to government demands about its curriculum, governance, and academic freedom.
“The impact of the proclamation is devastating to Harvard and its students,” Gershengorn told the court.
The university, home to nearly 6,800 international students—about 27% of its total population—has already been targeted on several fronts. The administration froze billions in federal funding and even proposed removing Harvard’s tax-exempt status.
Tensions escalated further on May 22, when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the revocation of Harvard’s certification to enroll foreign students. However, Judge Burroughs quickly intervened, halting that decision.
Now, as the administration pivots to using a slower administrative process to challenge Harvard’s certification, it remains to be seen how far the legal clash will go.
Department of Justice attorney Tiberius Davis, defending the government’s actions, insisted that Congress has given the president wide powers under the Immigration and Nationality Act to regulate the entry of foreigners, especially under national security grounds.
“We don’t trust them to host foreign students,” Davis bluntly stated in court, citing Harvard’s alleged mishandling of foreign influence and campus protests.
Amid ongoing tensions over pro-Palestinian protests and allegations of antisemitism, Trump has accused the university of creating an unsafe space for Jewish students.
Adding to the stakes, Trump’s proclamation even directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to consider revoking visas for currently enrolled international students.
Judge Burroughs acknowledged the gravity of the issue, calling the Justice Department’s arguments an “uphill battle,” but stopped short of making a final ruling. She emphasized that the court would deliver its opinion “as soon as we can.”
As the legal drama continues, the eyes of the academic world—and thousands of international students—are fixed on Boston, awaiting a decision that could shape the future of higher education in the U.S.
