In a significant rebuke to the Trump administration, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has granted a preliminary injunction preventing federal agencies from enforcing a controversial revocation of Harvard University’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
Judge Allison D. Burroughs ruled in favor of Harvard University on Friday, blocking the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, ICE, the State Department, and other federal officials from acting on the May 22, 2025 notice that sought to revoke Harvard’s SEVP and Exchange Visitor Program designations.
Key Directives from the Ruling:
- Immediate Injunction: All federal agencies and agents are barred from enforcing the May 22, 2025 SEVP revocation against Harvard or its affiliates.
- Visa and SEVIS Protections: The court prohibited any termination of SEVIS access, denial of admission, or visa-related penalties based on the revoked certification.
- Mandatory Guidance: The Trump administration must issue official guidance within 72 hours to embassies, consulates, and immigration offices to disregard the revocation.
- Status Report: The government must file a compliance report within 72 hours of the order’s entry.
Harvard’s legal challenge, filed amid growing tensions over the administration’s handling of international student policies, claimed the revocation was arbitrary and issued without proper procedural safeguards. The court agreed that immediate intervention was necessary to prevent irreparable harm to students and institutional operations.
The ruling also clarifies that while enforcement of the May 22 notice is blocked, the federal government may still conduct standard regulatory compliance reviews under existing federal laws such as 22 C.F.R. Part 62.
The lawsuit, officially titled President and Fellows of Harvard College v. Department of Homeland Security (Case No. 1:25-cv-11472-ADB), names several senior officials in the Trump administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, former Florida Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and Senator Marco Rubio.
This preliminary injunction marks a major legal victory for higher education institutions challenging immigration policy changes under President Trump’s administration.
📄 Read preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs:
https://www.harvard.edu/federal-lawsuits/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/06/0073.-06-20-2025-Judge-Allison-D.-Burroughs-ORDER-entered.-Preliminary-Injunction-entered-GRANTING-62-Motion.pdf
⚠️ This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
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