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A federal judge has temporarily blocked US President Donald Trump’s proclamation banning Harvard University from enrolling foreign students.
Although Kristi Noem, secretary of the department of homeland security, announced the restriction on Harvard last month, it took on the weight of a presidential directive on Wednesday after the White House issued an official order.
Hours later, Harvard rebutted claims by the White House that the proclamation is an attempt to “safeguard national security” and said it represents “a government vendetta” against the university in an amended lawsuit.
Allison Burroughs, district judge, issued a temporary restraining order against Trump’s ban.
Burroughs said if she does not intervene, the school would “sustain immediate and irreparable injury before there is an opportunity to hear from all parties”.
The judge said her order “shall remain in effect until further order of this Court”.
Foreign students make up roughly a quarter of the student body in Harvard, US’ oldest and wealthiest university.
Trump’s spat with the university stems from its refusal to budge to presidential directives, including reporting international students accused of misconduct no matter the degree, and eliminating its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes.
Since the row began in January, it has escalated into a full-blown standoff which has seen student visas revoked randomly and a pause in foreign student visa interviews.
Harvard has vowed to fight till the end.
Burroughs set a hearing for mid-June to listen to arguments over whether she should block Trump’s proclamation indefinitely.