Federal judge blocks Trump plan to ban international students at Harvard
Harvard University.Photo by Grace DuVal Campus & Community Federal judge blocks Trump plan to ban international students at Harvard Ruling notes administration action raises serious constitutional concerns Christina Pazzanese Harvard Staff Writer June 30, 2025 3 min read A federal judge in Boston has blocked a Trump administration plan to bar foreign students and scholars from entering the U.S. to study or work at Harvard. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs granted the University’s request for a preliminary injunction on June 23, finding that the administration’s actions were likely illegal and raised serious constitutional concerns. Burroughs wrote, “This case is about core constitutional rights that must be safeguarded: freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of speech, each of which is a pillar of a functioning democracy and an essential hedge against authoritarianism.” The ruling extends a temporary order issued June 5, one day after a proclamation by President Trump declaring that the federal government would deny visas to...