A federal judge in Boston has extended a temporary block on former President Donald Trump’s order to bar incoming foreign students from attending Harvard University, following a contentious court hearing on Monday. During the hearing, a lawyer for the Ivy League school accused Trump of using international students as “pawns” in a broader political dispute.
The original order, issued on June 5, was set to expire Thursday.
Trump’s proclamation, issued earlier this month, cited national security concerns as the basis for denying foreign students entry to Harvard. It followed a prior attempt by the Department of Homeland Security to strip the university of its authority to enroll international students. Judge Burroughs has already halted that move temporarily and is also weighing whether to keep that freeze in place while the legal battle continues.
Harvard’s attorney, Ian Gershengorn, argued that the administration is retaliating against the university for resisting Trump’s policy demands and overstepping its authority. “The president is using Harvard’s international students as pawns,” Gershengorn said during the hearing, insisting that there’s no evidence suggesting Harvard poses a national security threat.
The Trump administration’s relationship with Harvard has soured significantly in recent months, stemming from the university’s refusal to comply with several federal demands intended to address complaints from conservatives. Critics have accused Harvard of fostering a liberal environment and tolerating antisemitism. In response, Trump’s administration slashed more than $2.6 billion in federal research funding, terminated government contracts, and threatened the school’s tax-exempt status.
The current dispute escalated in April when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem requested that Harvard hand over records related to potentially dangerous activities involving foreign students. That action immediately jeopardized the university’s ability to attract and retain top international talent, striking a blow to its global reputation.
The loss of foreign student enrollment would be especially disruptive for graduate programs, many of which rely heavily on international applicants. In anticipation of possible fallout, universities abroad—including institutions in Hong Kong—have already begun extending invitations to affected students.
But Tiberius Davis, the sole Department of Justice attorney representing the Trump administration at the hearing, pushed back. He claimed that over the past two months, the administration had investigated dozens of universities. “The power is within Harvard to fix this,” Davis said, suggesting other institutions might now be better suited to host foreign students.
Judge Burroughs noted the stark contrast in legal representation during the hearing: Davis appeared alone for the government, while six attorneys represented Harvard. “Not only do you have this case, but you have it alone,” she remarked.
Harvard President Alan Garber has previously stated the university has taken steps to address antisemitism but emphasized that Harvard will not compromise on its “core, legally protected principles,” even under mounting pressure from Washington.
For now, the legal fate of Harvard’s international students remains in limbo, with a final decision expected after Judge Burroughs rules on the preliminary injunction later this month.