Judge Halts Trump’s Bid to End Harvard’s Student Visa Program Amid Legal Showdown

A federal judge has hit the brakes on the Trump administration’s attempt to pull the plug on Harvard University’s student visa program, granting a temporary restraining order after the university filed a lawsuit. The policy, which threatens to upend the lives of over 7,000 international students—nearly a quarter of Harvard’s student body—has sparked a fiery debate about governmental overreach and academic freedom.

Judge Allison Burroughs, an Obama appointee, issued the order to maintain the status quo while the legal battle unfolds. A hearing is set for Tuesday morning in Boston’s federal court. Harvard argues the policy violates the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act, calling it a retaliatory strike against the university’s refusal to bow to government demands on its governance and curriculum.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) moved to terminate Harvard’s visa program after the university allegedly failed to provide detailed behavioral records of visa-holding students, including footage of protest activities and disciplinary histories. DHS gave Harvard a tight 72-hour window to comply, a demand the university deemed unreasonable and invasive. Without compliance, Harvard faces a ban on enrolling foreign students for the 2025–2026 academic year, and current international students risk losing their legal status in the U.S.

Harvard’s President Alan Garber called the policy a direct attack on the university’s autonomy, accusing the administration of bypassing established procedures. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin fired back, arguing that hosting foreign students is a privilege, not a right, and that Harvard’s multibillion-dollar endowment doesn’t exempt it from accountability. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem doubled down, claiming the university’s response to record requests was ‘insufficient’ and signaling a broader crackdown on campus policies.

This clash is part of a larger showdown between the Trump administration and elite universities. The administration has already frozen nearly $3 billion in federal funding to Harvard and launched investigations into alleged antisemitism and diversity practices on campus. At least a dozen Harvard students have lost their U.S. study authorization due to protest activities, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinting at thousands more visa revocations nationwide.

Harvard’s legal fight underscores a deeper tension: the balance between national security and academic independence. As the court date looms, the nation watches whether this Ivy League giant can hold its ground against an administration determined to reshape higher education.