Judge blocks Trump administration’s effort to bar Harvard from enrolling international students

A federal judge said that she would issue a preliminary injunction that would allow Harvard to continue enrolling international students — halting, at least for now, the Trump administration’s efforts to ban the practice.

On Thursday, lawyers from Harvard and the Trump administration were in court in Boston over the administration’s attempt to revoke the school’s ability to enroll students and scholars on international visas.

The move comes after the same judge, Allison D. Burroughs, granted a temporary restraining order last Friday.

“To me it represents some kind of temporary relief,” says Ella Ricketts, a first-year international student at Harvard. She’s set to start an internship soon, and had been worried that without a block, she wouldn’t be able to. She says she’s hesitant to mark this as a victory. “Obviously I remain optimistic and hopeful, but this is very much just one step in a much, much larger process.” 

Harvard has nearly 7,000 international students, which make up more than a quarter of the student body. More than 1.1 million international students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities in the 2023-’24 school year. They do not qualify for federal financial aid, and so for many colleges represent a crucial financial lifeline.

This is a developing story and may be updated as details emerge.

 

A ban on feeding pigeons ruffles lots of feathers in Mumbai

The pigeon population has exploded — a result of people feeding the birds. For some it's a holy duty and a way to connect to nature. Critics point to health risks tied to exposure to pigeon droppings.

‘Rosemead’ tells a tragic — and true — story

The new movie stars Lucy Liu as an ailing mother to Joe, played by Lawrence Shou as a teenager facing mental illness in his feature debut role.

From 400-year-old globes to cosmic shrouds: A Maine library brings maps to life

From 400-year-old globes to cosmic funeral shrouds, how the Osher Map Library in Maine shows people that maps aren't just for navigation — but windows into history, culture, and how we see the world.

Benin’s interior minister says a coup announced earlier has been foiled

Earlier, a group of soldiers had appeared on Benin 's state TV Sunday to announce the dissolution of the government in an apparent coup, the latest of many in West Africa.

A fire at a popular nightclub in India’s Goa state kills at least 25, officials say

At least 25 people, including tourists, were killed in a fire at a popular nightclub in India's Goa state, the state's chief minister said Sunday.

National parks fee-free calendar drops MLK Day, Juneteenth and adds Trump’s birthday

The Trump administration, which has railed against what it describes as "woke" policies, removed MLK Day and Juneteenth from next year's list of fare-exempt days for visitors at dozens of national parks.

More Education Coverage