Temporary restraining order issued just hours after Harvard filed lawsuit in federal court
Key Points:
- Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order blocking DHS from enforcing the enrollment ban on Harvard’s international students.
- The decision came less than 24 hours after Harvard filed a federal lawsuit challenging the policy.
- The court’s action preserves the status quo for thousands of F-1 visa holders enrolled at the university.
- This ruling follows a separate nationwide injunction issued by Judge Jeffrey White regarding SEVIS record terminations.
In a swift judicial intervention, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston granted a temporary restraining order on Friday blocking the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University’s authorization to enroll international students. The court order came just hours after the Ivy League institution filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of unlawful and retaliatory conduct.
The ruling temporarily halts the enforcement of the DHS order, which was issued Thursday and demanded that Harvard submit detailed documentation about international students’ affiliations with foreign governments, political activities, and protest involvement.
Background: Lawsuit and Judicial Action
As previously reported by Virginia Times, Harvard filed its lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts after DHS abruptly revoked the university’s SEVP certification. The complaint alleged violations of the First Amendment, Due Process, and the Administrative Procedure Act.
President Alan Garber said the administration’s actions were “an attack on academic freedom and institutional autonomy,” as DHS cited antisemitism and alleged foreign influence as justifications for the revocation.
The court’s restraining order ensures that over 6,800 international students currently enrolled at Harvard can maintain their F-1 status and continue their education uninterrupted.
Context: Broader Legal and Policy Challenges
The Burroughs ruling follows a similar judicial intervention one day earlier by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in California. In that case, White issued a nationwide injunction blocking DHS from terminating SEVIS records en masse, citing arbitrary enforcement and procedural violations.
The twin rulings now place significant legal restraints on the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement targeting academic institutions. Legal experts say the cases could shape future executive authority over foreign student admissions and institutional governance.
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