Judge Blocks Trump Proclamation Barring Harvard’s International Students

For the second time in three days, a federal judge in Boston rejected efforts by the Trump administration to bar international students at Harvard, blocking a presidential proclamation that would prevent new students from abroad from enrolling at the school.

President Trump had sought to bar the students using a law designed to safeguard national security. In a strongly worded ruling on Monday, Judge Allison D. Burroughs sided with lawyers for Harvard who had argued that presidential power was intended to be used against foreign enemies, not international students.

The judge’s order halts the presidential proclamation from going into effect. A similar decision by Judge Burroughs, issued on Friday, temporarily blocked another effort by the Trump administration to keep international students out of Harvard through other means.

The government’s moves against Harvard have thrown the lives of thousands of visiting scholars into temporary disarray.

But the ruling by Judge Burroughs preserves, at least for now, Harvard’s well-established tradition of hosting international students, permitting about 7,000 Harvard students and recent graduates to continue studying and working legally in the United States.

Both rulings will remain in effect as a lawsuit, originally filed by Harvard against the Trump administration in May, makes its way through the courts.

Harvard’s leadership has accused the Trump administration of a partisan vendetta against Harvard, one of the nation’s wealthiest and most selective universities, as President Trump continues to attack both elite universities and their ties with foreign entities.

After last week’s order, Mr. Trump issued a statement on social media indicating that talks were underway in an effort to settle the lawsuit.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.