In a significant legal development, a federal judge has granted Harvard University a temporary restraining order (TRO) to block the Trump administration’s proclamation that bans international students from entering the U.S. on Harvard-sponsored visas. This ruling comes just hours after Harvard filed an amended complaint accusing the administration of retaliation for the University’s previous legal actions.
U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs issued the order amidst rising tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard, marking a crucial moment in a series of legal battles over immigration policies affecting international students.
The TRO extends an initial one granted on May 23, following the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decision to revoke Harvard’s eligibility to host international students. Burroughs had previously agreed to extend the TRO after a hearing on May 29, acknowledging the urgency of the matter.
With the recent order, international students can now enter the U.S. to attend Harvard until a scheduled hearing on June 16, where further legal proceedings will take place. However, Harvard must file for a preliminary injunction to maintain its ability to host international students beyond this date, pending the court’s final determination.
In its amended complaint, Harvard contended that Trump’s recent proclamation was a deliberate effort to bypass the existing TRO, which had been set to protect the University against abrupt changes in its SEVP certification. Harvard asserted that without immediate judicial intervention, the proclamation would have far-reaching consequences for both incoming and current international students, instilling fears of arbitrary deportation.
Judge Burroughs indicated that Harvard demonstrated a “sufficient showing” of impending “immediate and irreparable harm” without the TRO, reinforcing the urgency of the situation. Nonetheless, both the current TRO and any future preliminary injunction are temporary measures, leaving the door open for further legal challenges.
This latest legal maneuver is part of an ongoing standoff between Harvard and the Trump administration, which has initiated a series of investigations into the institution and imposed stricter immigration policies impacting its international students. Harvard is currently engaged in two lawsuits against the White House: one concerning multi-billion dollar funding cuts and the other addressing the legal status of its international students.
Judge Burroughs, appointed by former President Barack Obama, is no stranger to high-profile cases involving Harvard. In 2021, she presided over a lawsuit filed by Harvard and MIT against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy that would have forced international students taking online classes to exit the U.S. Additionally, she oversees a separate lawsuit challenging the legality of substantial federal funding cuts to the University.
Two weeks ago, Burroughs acted swiftly to institute the initial TRO against the DHS’s revocation of Harvard’s SEVP certification, a move that underscored the serious implications of the administration’s actions on the University’s international student population. Last week, she extended the TRO but paused on granting a preliminary injunction until both parties could reach an agreement on its terms.
Legal experts have expressed skepticism about Harvard’s chances at the Supreme Court level, particularly given the Court’s conservative majority, which has historically embraced a broad interpretation of presidential authority regarding immigration policy. The University will need to substantiate its claims that the recent proclamation violates federal law or undermines its constitutional rights and demonstrate that the administration’s rationale hinges on unsubstantiated national security concerns.
As legal battles unfold, Harvard remains locked in a complex confrontation with the Trump administration, with implications that extend far beyond the University’s campus and into the broader landscape of immigration and education policies.
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