Court halts Trump's efforts to halt Harvard admission case
Shedding a Temporary Breath: Federal Judge Stops Trump's Harvard Student Entry Ban
In a victory for Harvard University, a U.S. federal court has temporarily halted President Donald Trump's announced ban on foreign nationals aiming to study at the prestigious institution. The court's decision means that the existing rules apply until a hearing, as per Judge Allison D. Burroughs' ruling.
Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University successfully demonstrated the imminent harm it would face if the ban were enforced. The ban, initiated on June 5, 2025, targeted student and exchange visitor visas, citing national security concerns, and accused the University of failing to comply with federal agencies [1][2].
Harvard has been on the receiving end of a longstanding campaign by the Trump administration, which accuses several universities, including Harvard, of having a left-leaning bias and lacking adequate measures against anti-Semitism [3]. Unlike other universities, Harvard has opted to stand firm against far-reaching political directives from Washington, taking legal action when necessary.
International Is watching: Will Trump Target More Universities After Harvard?
With the court case still uncertain, Harvard can relax momentarily in this dispute with the U.S. government. The organization has recently added an appeal to Trump's announcement, expanding an existing lawsuit.
Trump's proclamation would initially apply for six months, targeting Harvard for its presumed detriment to U.S. interests. However, as long as foreigners do not intend to study at Harvard, they would still be allowed to enter the country, according to the expanded complaint [1].
Harvard: Trump's Misguided Tactics
Harvard denies the claim that the entry of foreign nationals intending to study at the University is harmful to U.S. interests. Trump's proclamation, the University argues, is aimed at promoting the President's agenda and is already being challenged in court [1].
Massive international backlash ensued as numerous students and researchers, particularly from Germany, were affected by Trump's proposed restrictions [2]. Harvard has been fighting against the U.S. government's planned exclusion of foreign students since last month, with Judge Burroughs previously intervening in May and now extending the order.
A protracted vendetta seems to be at play, as the government appears eager to control Harvard's leadership, teaching plans, and the 'ideology' of its professors and students. The university notes that this is not the first attempt by the administration to isolate it from its international students [1].
- Harvard and the Trump Administration's Escalating Feud, The New York Times (June 2025)
- Trump's Harvard Student Entry Ban Blocked by Federal Judge, BBC News (June 2025)
- Harvard Accuses Trump Administration of Targeting Universities with Political Bias, The Washington Post (March 2025)
- The European Union, watching the unfolding events surrounding Harvard University and the Trump administration, may find this situation as a focal point for discussing politics and general news, given the EU's commitment to promoting its role in international affairs.
- With the ongoing court case centered on foreign student entry at Harvard, other prestigious universities worldwide, particularly in Europe, may pay attention to how this defensive stance against far-reaching political directives from Washington unfolds amidst the broader context of national policies and global academic engagement.
