A federal judge has temporarily blocked enforcement of President Donald Trump’s (R) executive order barring foreign students from entering the country to study at Harvard University.
Thursday’s ruling from Judge Allison D. Burroughs of U.S. District Court in Massachusetts explains that absent an injunction, Harvard would “sustain immediate and irreparable injury before there is an opportunity to hear from all parties.”
Judge Burroughs had already issued an order preventing enforcement of the President’s effort to prevent Harvard from participating in the Student Exchange Visa Program.
This latest ruling updating the temporary restraining order came just hours after the University amended their lawsuit against the Trump Administration in response to the latest executive order.
In addition to granting Harvard’s updated request, Burroughs also extended her previous temporary restraining order, making both effective through June 20 or until a “preliminary injunction order can be issued.”
Under the executive order issued this past Wednesday, student and exchange visitor visas hosted by Harvard University would have been immediately suspended for a minimum six-month period that could have been extended at a later date.
Impacted by the executive order were students from outside the United States intending to study or conduct research at Harvard with F, M, and J category visas that had not yet arrived in the country.
Those currently attending Harvard under one of these visa categories also had the potential to be affected by this executive order, as the President has directed the Secretary of State to review whether or not these visas should, “in his discretion,” be revoked.
In light of Thursday’s ruling, enforcement of this order will be halted until further notice.
“Admission into the United States to attend, conduct research, or teach at our Nation’s institutions of higher education is a privilege granted by our Government, not a guarantee,” the executive order reads.
“That privilege is necessarily tied to the host institution’s compliance and commitment to following Federal law,” Trump explained. “Harvard University has failed in this respect, among many others.”
Harvard University quickly responded to the allegations levied in the executive order with a brief statement posted online.
“This is yet another illegal, retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights,” University spokesperson Jason A. Newton wrote in the statement. “Harvard will continue to protect its international students.”
Harvard University President Alan M. Garber has also shared a public statement regarding the Trump Administration’s latest actions and explaining their amended lawsuit against the federal government.
“While the court considers our request, contingency plans are being developed to ensure that international students and scholars can continue to pursue their work at Harvard this summer and through the coming academic year,” he said, in part.
“International students and scholars make outstanding contributions inside and outside of our classrooms and laboratories, fulfilling our mission of excellence in countless ways,” he continued. “We will celebrate them, support them, and defend their interests as we continue to assert our Constitutional rights.”
A hearing in this ongoing legal battle between the Trump Administration and America’s oldest university has reportedly been set for June 16.
