ISLAMABAD (PEN) : A U.S. federal court has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to ban new international students from enrolling at Harvard University, citing concerns over “irreparable injury” to the institution.
Federal Judge Suspends Presidential Proclamation
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs ruled on Thursday that the government could not enforce President Donald Trump’s latest proclamation, which aimed to bar most new foreign students from attending Harvard. The court’s decision came after Harvard filed an amended complaint, arguing that the move was part of a broader campaign of retaliation.
“Harvard has shown that without a temporary restraining order, it risked sustaining immediate and irreparable injury before there is an opportunity to hear from all parties,” Judge Burroughs stated.
Escalating Legal Battle with Harvard
The Trump administration’s proclamation, issued Wednesday night, asserted that Harvard had become an “unsuitable destination” for foreign students and researchers. It also threatened existing international students with potential visa cancellations.
In response, Harvard contended that the measure was politically motivated, stating in its legal filing: “This is not the Administration’s first attempt to sever Harvard from its international students… \[It] is part of a concerted and escalating campaign of retaliation by the government.”
Federal Funding Cuts and Allegations of Bias
The administration has already revoked approximately *\$3.2 billion* in federal grants and contracts previously benefiting Harvard, and has warned of further exclusion from future funding programs.
President Trump has increasingly targeted elite academic institutions, accusing them of promoting liberal ideologies and failing to protect free speech. Harvard, in particular, has resisted government demands to alter its curriculum, faculty oversight, and student policies.
International Students at Risk
International students comprise *27% of Harvard’s total enrollment* for the 2024–2025 academic year and are a vital source of academic diversity and institutional revenue. The new restrictions threatened not only their academic futures but also the university’s global engagement.
While acknowledging the president’s authority to restrict entry in national interest, Harvard argued that this proclamation lacked such justification. “The President’s actions thus are not undertaken to protect the ‘interests of the US’ but instead to pursue a government vendetta against Harvard,” the university stated.
Wider Implications for US Higher Education
The legal battle comes amid a broader crackdown on American universities. Trump’s education secretary recently warned Columbia University of potential loss of accreditation over allegations of failing to address anti-Semitic incidents on campus.
Unlike Harvard, institutions such as Columbia have begun complying with various federal demands, illustrating the intensifying pressure elite universities face under the Trump administration’s second term.
