Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction Preserving Harvard’s Ability to Host International Students
By Matan H. Josephy and Laurel M. Shugart, Crimson Staff Writers
Updated June 20, 2025, at 6:16 p.m.
“A federal judge on Friday granted Harvard a preliminary injunction halting the Trump administration’s withdrawal of its ability to enroll international students but did not address President Donald Trump’s entry ban on holders of Harvard-sponsored visas.
The preliminary injunction will prevent the federal government’s May 22 revocation of Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification until United States District Judge Allison D. Burroughs reaches a decision in the University’s lawsuit.
Burroughs also directed the federal government to issue guidance to consular and customs officers to disregard the revocation and document its compliance in the next 72 hours.
But she declined to include several provisions that Harvard asked for in its proposed language for the injunction.
She did not block the government from imposing a “categorical restriction” on Harvard’s ability to host students, instructors, and researchers on F and J visas, which would have stopped Trump’s June 4 entry ban. A temporary restraining order blocking the entry ban remains in effect until Monday.
And she did not impose a 30-day pause on the Trump administration’s second attempt to revoke Harvard’s SEVP certification. That effort, which began on May 28, could take effect as soon as Wednesday.
Still, the injunction “allows Harvard to continue enrolling international students and scholars while the case moves forward,” a University spokesperson wrote. In a message to current international students after Burroughs’ order, the Harvard International Office wrote that Harvard “strongly opposes any effort to withdraw the University’s certification.”
Regarding Trump’s June 4 proclamation, the HIO wrote that “we expect the judge to issue a more enduring decision in the coming days.”
Link: show_temp-234.pdf