A federal judge delivered a major victory to Harvard University on Friday by blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to prevent the university from hosting international students.
This ruling marks another setback for the administration as Harvard challenges multiple government actions, including efforts to impose sanctions on the Ivy League institution.
The Case and the Judge’s Ruling
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston issued an order that preserves Harvard’s ability to continue hosting international students while the case is being decided. However, the ruling falls short of resolving all the legal issues Harvard faces.
Judge Burroughs acknowledged that the federal government still has the authority to review Harvard’s ability to host foreign students through the normal processes outlined in the law.
The legal battle began in May 2025 when Harvard sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after it revoked the school’s certification to host foreign students and issue the necessary visas.
The sudden withdrawal would have forced Harvard’s approximately 7,000 international students—about a quarter of the university’s total enrollment—to either transfer schools or risk being in the U.S. illegally. New foreign students would also have been barred from attending Harvard.
The University’s Response
Harvard argued that the government’s action was an act of illegal retaliation for the university’s rejection of the White House’s demands to alter its policies on campus protests, admissions, hiring, and other issues. The university has repeatedly stated that it faced pressure for not aligning with conservative agendas.
Trump’s Efforts to Block Foreign Students
This latest legal challenge follows President Donald Trump’s efforts to block foreign students from entering the U.S. In early June, the president issued a proclamation to prevent foreign students from attending universities like Harvard.
Harvard promptly challenged the proclamation, arguing that it circumvented the temporary court order. Judge Burroughs did not address the proclamation in her order on Friday, leaving the emergency block in place.
Harvard informed international students that the university continues to make contingency plans to ensure that they can pursue their academic work should there be changes to their student visa eligibility or their ability to enroll.
Impact on Students
The ongoing legal battle has left current international students and prospective scholars in limbo. Harvard officials said that the uncertainty has created “profound fear, concern, and confusion” among international students, many of whom have expressed interest in transferring to other institutions.
Maureen Martin, Harvard’s director of immigration services, mentioned that countless students have asked about transferring from the university.
One such student, Huang, a prospective graduate student who had received a scholarship offer from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, described the uncertainty she felt.
After her previous offer from Vanderbilt University was rescinded due to cuts to programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Huang saw her educational dreams revived by Harvard’s offer.
However, she’s still waiting for her visa interview, despite court orders preventing the administration’s policies from affecting her.
“Your personal effort and capability means nothing in this era,” Huang said in a social media post, voicing the frustration that many students are feeling as they wait to see what the legal battle will mean for their futures.
The Larger Conflict Between Harvard and the Trump Administration
The Trump administration has had a tense relationship with Harvard University for months. After the university rejected a series of government demands to address conservative complaints about the school’s liberal stance on various issues, the administration began targeting the university.
In addition to the legal challenge over international students, the Trump administration has cut more than $2.6 billion in research grants, ended federal contracts, and even threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status.
The Path Ahead
The legal fight is expected to continue, and many believe it will eventually make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the issue of religious and political influence in public institutions, including higher education, will likely be tested.
While Harvard has vowed to stand by its core, legally protected principles, the uncertainty surrounding international students continues to hang over the institution.
As the legal battle persists, both Harvard and its students remain in a state of flux, hoping for a resolution that preserves the university’s status as a global research hub.