A federal judge on Monday granted a brief extension of an order blocking former President Donald Trump’s attempt to bar international students from entering the United States to study at Harvard University, as legal battles over the controversial policy continue.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs extended the temporary restraining order, originally set to expire Thursday, to June 23, giving herself more time to consider whether to issue a longer-term preliminary injunction. “We’ll kick out an opinion as soon as we can,” Burroughs told the courtroom at the close of the Boston hearing.
The extension preserves the status quo while Harvard presses its legal challenge against the proclamation signed by Trump on June 4, which suspended entry of foreign nationals enrolled at Harvard, citing national security concerns. The university responded with lawsuits seeking to protect its nearly 6,800 international students, who make up roughly 27% of its student body.
Harvard’s legal counsel, Ian Gershengorn, argued that the policy was a form of retaliation, violating the university’s First Amendment rights for resisting federal interference in its curriculum, governance, and academic freedom. He warned the court of “devastating” consequences for the university and its students if the ban were enacted.
The Trump administration, meanwhile, claims the former president acted within his authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows him to suspend entry of specific groups of foreign nationals. Justice Department attorney Tiberius Davis defended the move, citing alleged foreign interference, particularly from China, and an inadequate institutional response to unrest on Harvard’s campus.
“We don’t trust them to host foreign students,” Davis said, emphasizing national security concerns.
Judge Burroughs, an Obama appointee, did not signal how she will ultimately rule but said the government faced an “uphill battle” proving that Harvard would not suffer irreparable harm if the policy proceeds.
This court action is the latest in a series of escalating conflicts between Trump and Harvard. The administration has previously frozen billions in federal grants, proposed stripping the university of its tax-exempt status, and revoked its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a move that Burroughs quickly blocked.
While the Department of Homeland Security has since shifted to a formal administrative review of Harvard’s SEVP certification, Trump’s new proclamation sought to bypass that process with immediate restrictions, triggering renewed litigation.
The proclamation also directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to consider revoking the visas of current international students at Harvard.
Harvard’s legal team insists that the administration’s actions are not only punitive but politically motivated, amid rising tensions on U.S. campuses over the Israel-Gaza war. Trump has accused the university of fostering antisemitism, claims Harvard denies amid ongoing campus protests and heated national debate.
Judge Burroughs is expected to decide soon on whether to grant a preliminary injunction, which would offer longer-term relief as the case proceeds through the courts.
Written By Rodney Mbua
