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President Donald Trump has taken direct action to prevent foreign students from entering Harvard University, citing national security concerns. However, his efforts have faced resistance from the federal judiciary — particularly from U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, an Obama appointee.
The Trump administration has consistently raised alarms about Harvard’s alleged failure to address violent and unlawful behavior by some international students. In response, the Department of Homeland Security announced last month it would revoke Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which enables the enrollment of foreign students.
With international students comprising roughly 7,000 — or 27% — of the student body, and recognizing the financial implications, Harvard filed suit against the administration. The university argued the move violated the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act. On May 23, Judge Burroughs granted a temporary restraining order to halt the revocation.
“Harvard University is no longer a trustworthy steward of international student and exchange visitor programs,” the Trump administration claimed.
In an apparent effort to bypass the judge’s order, President Trump issued an executive order Wednesday temporarily suspending the entry of foreign Harvard students on nonimmigrant F, M, or J visas. The president cited national security risks, accusing Harvard of:
- Failing to comply with federal law,
- Inability to monitor its foreign students,
- Unwillingness to disclose information about known illegal activities, and
- “Extensive entanglements” with foreign powers, particularly communist China.
“Admission to the United States to study at an ‘elite’ American university is a privilege, not a right,” Trump declared.
The administration also criticized Harvard for its response to violent anti-Semitic incidents, many of which were allegedly carried out by foreign students.
Attorney General Pam Bondi supported the move, stating, “This Department of Justice will vigorously defend the President’s proclamation suspending the entry of new foreign students at Harvard University based on national security concerns.”
Harvard amended its lawsuit, accusing the Trump administration of orchestrating “a government vendetta” against the university. President Alan Garber defended the institution, calling it “a truly global university community.”
Judge Burroughs again intervened, blocking Trump’s executive order. She ruled that allowing the suspension to proceed would cause Harvard “immediate and irreparable injury.”
In response, Bondi’s chief of staff Chad Mizelle stated, “Harvard is refusing to provide the federal government with information about crimes and misconduct committed by its foreign students. This is a threat to national security and we will vigorously defend @POTUS’s proclamation.”
