Trump's Bid to Ban Foreign Students from Harvard Halted
Federal judge halts Trump administration's efforts to bar international students from Harvard, citing threats to academic freedom and free speech.
- Publish date: since 4 hours
A federal judge in Boston blocked on Monday, June 23, another effort by the US President Donald Trump's administration to ban international students from attending Harvard University.
The judge said that the Trump administration's officials' "misplaced efforts to control a reputable academic institution” threatened freedom of speech.
The order from the U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs preserves the ability of international students to apply and study at Harvard University while the case is decided.
President Trump has sought to cut off enrollment of foreign students as part of his campaign to change the governance and policies of the Ivy League school.
The administrations officials have also cut over $2.6 billion in research grants, cancelled federal contracts, and threatened to revoke the tax-exempt status of the university .
Harvard University sued the Department of Homeland Security in May, after the department retracted the school's certification to host international students and issue paperwork for their visas.
Burroughs temporarily halted the action hours after Harvard sued and then provided an initial injunction on June 20.
The latest injunction came on June 23 in response to the Trump administration's move, citing a legal justification when he issued a proclamation on June 4, banning foreign students from entering the US to attend Harvard University.