A federal judge in Boston said on Thursday she would extend legal relief to Harvard University in its fight against the Donald Trump administration’s effort to revoke its authority to host foreign students.
US District Judge Allison Burroughs said she would issue a preliminary injunction after a hearing in which both sides presented arguments, less than a week after she issued a shorter-term restraining order the same day Harvard filed a suit against the administration.
Once issued, the injunction would remain in place until a final judgment on the case is made.
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it had terminated the Ivy League institution’s ability to host international students due to what DHS said was noncompliance with its request for records of their campus activities.
The termination, which came amid an escalating clash between the Trump administration and Harvard, would have affected more than 7,000 visa holders, according to the university’s complaint.
During the 2024-2025 school year, Harvard hosted 1,282 students and 844 scholars from mainland China, as well as 80 students and scholars from Hong Kong, according to the Harvard International Office.
