US Judge Halts Trump-Era Attempt to Revoke Harvard’s Foreign Student Enrolment Rights

Court intervenes after DHS claims university poses “unsafe environment” and demands strict compliance within 72 hours.

BOSTON — A federal judge has issued a temporary block on the Trump administration’s move to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students, following a swift legal challenge by the university.

The decision came just hours after Harvard filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. Judge Allison Burroughs, appointed by former President Barack Obama, granted a temporary restraining order to halt the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) recent action. The court concluded that Harvard could suffer “immediate and irreparable injury” without judicial intervention.

At the heart of the dispute is the DHS’s revocation of Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Without this certification, Harvard would be prohibited from issuing I-20 visa documents, effectively ending its ability to enroll new international students.

The DHS, in a letter dated May 22, accused Harvard of creating an environment hostile to Jewish students, promoting pro-Palestinian sentiment following the Israel-Hamas conflict, and pushing racially motivated diversity policies. Secretary Kristi Noem further cited alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party and demanded the university provide detailed records of student activism and protests spanning the past five years.

Currently, international students make up more than a quarter of Harvard’s student population. The potential loss of SEVP certification poses serious risks—not just to student diversity, but to the university’s global reputation and revenue.

While the court’s restraining order offers temporary relief, thousands of international students remain in limbo. Incoming students cannot proceed with enrollment unless the situation is resolved or they transfer to another institution approved under SEVP guidelines.

The case highlights escalating tensions between higher education institutions and federal immigration authorities, especially as policies targeting foreign students and campus activism continue to evolve.