Federal judge blocks Trump ban on Harvard international students

On Jun. 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs granted Harvard’s motion for a preliminary injunction blocking the Department of Homeland Security’s effort to revoke Harvard’s ability to enroll international students.

President Donald J. Trump posted on Truth Social that his administration expects to reach a “deal” with Harvard “in the next week or so” after targeting the university for “largescale improprieties.”

The Department of Homeland Security was the federal agency used to attempt to revoke Harvard University’s certification to enroll international students.

Federal courts can issue preliminary injunctions to block executive actions they find likely unlawful, illustrating the constitutional principle of separation of powers.

More than 1 million international students study at U.S. universities, paying full out-of-state tuition and contributing over $40 billion annually to the U.S. economy.

Universities must be certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll international students, giving the federal government leverage over institutional visa eligibility.