Judge blocks Trump move to ban international students at Harvard

A U.S. federal judge on Thursday extended a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the Trump administration's policy aimed at preventing Harvard University from enrolling international students.

The TRO "will remain in place" while the parties confer and submit either a joint proposed preliminary injunction order or individual proposed orders for the judge to consider, after which a final preliminary injunction order will be issued, according to a court document from the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Judge Allison Burroughs held a hearing on the case Thursday morning.

On May 22, the Department of Homeland Security announced the revocation of Harvard University's certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, effectively barring the university from enrolling international students.

On May 23, Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the policy. That same day, Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order against the administration's ban, requiring that the status quo be maintained until a hearing could be held.

Before Thursday's hearing, the U.S. Department of Justice submitted a notice to the court. The document, dated May 28, was issued by the Department of Homeland Security to Harvard. It stated that the Trump administration would give Harvard 30 days to contest the policy.

CNN reported that this move marked a shift in the administration's previously hardline stance following judicial intervention.

At the same time, the Trump administration continued to exert pressure on Harvard. On Wednesday, Trump stated that the proportion of foreign students at Harvard should be limited to about 15 percent. He also reiterated his demand for the university to submit a list of its foreign students.

According to Harvard University data, as of the fall semester of 2023, international students accounted for more than 27 percent of the total student population. Currently, Harvard enrolls nearly 6,800 international students and scholars from over 140 countries and regions, most of whom are pursuing graduate programs.

The revocation of Harvard's ability to enroll international students is one of the latest moves by the Trump administration to pressure the university. Previously, Harvard had billions of dollars in funds frozen after it refused the government's demands for significant reforms to its governance structure, hiring practices and admissions policies.

The Trump administration also threatened to revoke the university's tax-exempt status and launched multiple investigations into the institution.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has targeted several U.S. universities, warning that failure to adjust their policies would result in funding cuts. Key demands from the administration include eradicating anti-Semitism on campus and eliminating diversity initiatives that favor minority groups.

U.S. public opinion widely holds that the Trump administration has focused on institutions like Harvard because Republicans view these universities as strongholds of leftist liberals or Democrats.