Judge Blocks a Trump Effort to Prevent International Students at Harvard

A federal judge in Boston sided with Harvard University on Friday and barred a Trump administration effort to rescind the school’s right to host international students.

The government’s moves against Harvard have thrown the lives of thousands of visiting scholars into temporary disarray. But the ruling by Judge Allison D. Burroughs allows Harvard’s longstanding participation in the Student and Visitor Exchange Program to continue, at least for now.

The administration had sought to exclude the school from that program, which allows 7,000 Harvard students and recent graduates to study and work legally in the United States.

In a three-page preliminary injunction, Judge Burroughs said the government was forbidden from “implementing, instituting, maintaining, or giving any force or effect” to the Department of Homeland Security’s push last month to force Harvard out of the international student program.

The judge also ruled that the government had to tell American diplomatic posts and ports of entry to “disregard” instructions to restrict Harvard’s participation.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.