BOSTON. A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction preventing the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University’s authorization to enroll foreign students, a move the Ivy League institution described as retaliation for its “refusal to surrender its academic independence.”

The ruling offers immediate relief to thousands of international students who faced being forced to transfer under the administration’s controversial policy. Harvard warned that the policy’s implementation would have an “immediate and devastating effect” on both the university and over 7,000 international visa holders currently enrolled.

“Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard,” the 389-year-old university asserted in a lawsuit filed Friday in Boston federal court. Currently, nearly 6,800 international students attend Harvard, comprising 27% of its total enrollment.

The dispute is part of a larger confrontation between Harvard and the Trump administration, which has repeatedly criticized elite universities for alleged left-wing bias and attempted to pressure them to align with the administration’s agenda. Harvard has vigorously fought back, previously suing to restore nearly $3 billion in federal grants that were frozen or canceled. Recent federal actions also include proposals to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and an investigation into alleged civil rights violations.

Leo Gerden, a Swedish student graduating this month with a degree in economics and government, called the judge’s ruling a “great first step,” while cautioning that international students remain in a precarious legal battle. “There is no single decision by Trump or by Harvard or by a judge that is going to put an end to this tyranny of what Trump is doing,” Gerden said.

Harvard’s complaint emphasized that the policy would force the university to rescind admissions offers to thousands and disrupt numerous academic programs, clinics, courses, and research labs just days before graduation. The university argued that the revocation was punitive, targeting Harvard’s “perceived viewpoint” and violating its right to free speech under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.

The Trump administration may appeal U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs’ ruling. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “unelected judges have no right to stop the Trump Administration from exercising their rightful control over immigration policy and national security policy.”

Since President Trump’s inauguration, his administration has accused universities of neglecting the welfare of Jewish students amid campus protests over Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Harvard has stood firm in its legal challenges, unlike some peers such as Columbia University, which agreed to reforms following similar federal pressure.

In announcing the termination of Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, effective for the 2025-2026 academic year, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party,” though no evidence was provided publicly.

Approximately 20% of Harvard’s international students in 2024 are from China, raising bipartisan concerns in the U.S. over potential Chinese government influence on campuses, including monitoring political activity and limiting academic freedom. Harvard has pledged to combat antisemitism and thoroughly investigate credible civil rights complaints.

Judge Burroughs’ brief order blocking the policy for two weeks cited Harvard’s demonstration of potential harm if the case was not heard fully. She scheduled further hearings on May 27 and 29. Burroughs, an Obama appointee, is also presiding over Harvard’s lawsuit concerning the withheld federal grants.

Harvard President Alan Garber condemned the administration’s actions as an illegal attempt to control the university’s curriculum, faculty, and students. “The revocation continues a series of government actions to retaliate against Harvard for our refusal to surrender our academic independence,” Garber stated in a letter to the Harvard community.

The policy could also impact Harvard financially, as international students often pay full tuition, helping to subsidize aid for others. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said, “It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments.”

Among Harvard’s international students are notable figures such as Cleo Carney, daughter of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Princess Elisabeth, heir to the Belgian throne.