BOSTON, MA – A federal judge on Monday granted a short extension of a court order temporarily halting President Donald Trump’s move to bar foreign nationals from studying at Harvard University, while she weighs whether to issue a broader injunction.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, presiding over the high-profile case in Boston, extended the temporary restraining order to June 23, giving herself more time to rule on Harvard’s request for longer-term protection against the policy.
“We’ll kick out an opinion as soon as we can,” Judge Burroughs said at the close of the hearing.
The legal standoff comes after Trump signed a presidential proclamation on June 4, citing national security concerns to justify banning new international students from enrolling at the prestigious university.
The directive also calls for a review of current students’ visas and threatens to revoke Harvard’s ability to host international scholars under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
Harvard: Proclamation Is Retaliation
Harvard, which hosts nearly 6,800 international students, or 27% of its student body, argues the measure is a retaliatory political move aimed at stifling academic freedom and punishing the university for its refusal to bow to federal demands.
“The impact of the proclamation is devastating to Harvard and its students,” said Ian Gershengorn, Harvard’s lead attorney.
He added that the policy violates the school’s First Amendment rights by retaliating against its governance, curriculum, and ideological independence.
DOJ: Harvard a National Security Risk
But Justice Department attorney Tiberius Davis insisted the president acted within his powers under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which grants sweeping authority to block certain groups of foreign nationals from entering the U.S.
“We don’t trust them to host foreign students,” Davis argued, citing the university’s foreign funding sources, particularly from China, and what he called insufficient cooperation in sharing data about foreign students allegedly involved in “illegal activity” amid campus unrest.
Harvard Faces Multifront Federal Assault
Monday’s court battle is the latest in a series of legal challenges between Harvard and the Trump administration.
The university has filed two lawsuits seeking to unfreeze over $2.5 billion in federal funding and block actions it describes as politically motivated.
Earlier, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem moved to revoke Harvard’s SEVP certification entirely, a decision that Burroughs quickly blocked.
The administration has since opted to challenge the certification through a slower administrative process—but tensions remain high.
Last week, Trump signed a sweeping proclamation branding Harvard as “no longer a trustworthy steward” of international programs.
It imposed a six-month ban on new foreign admissions and directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to consider cancelling current student visas.
Context: Campus Unrest and Antisemitism Accusations
The crackdown follows growing protests over the Israel-Gaza conflict, which have ignited student demonstrations at universities nationwide, including Harvard.
Trump has accused the university of fostering antisemitism and allowing a hostile environment for Jewish students.
Judge Burroughs, an Obama appointee, did not indicate how she will ultimately rule but warned the DOJ faces an “uphill battle” in proving that Harvard won’t suffer irreparable harm if the policy takes effect.
A decision on a preliminary injunction—which would offer Harvard longer-term legal relief while its lawsuit continues—is expected soon.
