By Abiola Olawale
A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administration of United States President Donald Trump’s abrupt move to revoke the university’s ability to enroll international students.
The decision delivered on May 23, 2025, by United States District Judge Allison Burroughs in Massachusetts has offered temporary relief to about 6,800 international students who faced the risk of losing their legal status or being forced to transfer to other institutions.
In a ruling on Friday, Judge Burroughs ruled that Harvard University as a first-rate institution has demonstrated it would suffer “immediate and irreparable injury” if the ban were enforced before a full hearing of the substantive subject matter.
She scheduled further hearings for May 27 and May 29 to determine the next steps, preserving the status quo for now and allowing Harvard University to continue enrolling international students.
Recall that the Trump administration, had through a directive from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, announced on May 22, 2025, that Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has been revoked, effectively barring the university from enrolling foreign students.
The DHS cited allegations of Harvard fostering an “unsafe” environment, pointing to claims of antisemitism and “pro-Hamas activism.”
Harvard swiftly responded by filing a lawsuit in Boston’s federal court, arguing that the administration’s action violated the First Amendment and federal laws
The lawsuit emphasized the “immediate and devastating effect” the ban would have on Harvard asca university and its more than 7,000 visa-holding students, stating, “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”
