Daijiworld Media Network- Boston

Boston, Jun 24: In a significant setback for US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on elite academic institutions, a federal judge in Boston has blocked his administration's attempt to bar foreign nationals from studying at Harvard University, citing serious constitutional concerns.

US District Judge Allison Burroughs, in her ruling issued Monday, extended an earlier temporary order, granting a preliminary injunction that halts enforcement of a proclamation Trump signed in early June. The proclamation, justified on the grounds of national security, had sought to prevent foreign students from enrolling or continuing studies at Harvard for at least six months.

“This case is about core constitutional rights that must be safeguarded — freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of speech,” wrote Judge Burroughs, emphasizing that such rights form “a pillar of a functioning democracy and an essential hedge against authoritarianism.”

The Trump administration’s move followed a wave of aggressive actions against the Ivy League university, including the freezing of approximately $2.5 billion in federal funding, threats to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status, and launching multiple investigations into the institution’s operations.

The president accused Harvard of harboring political bias, failing to adequately address antisemitism on campus, and receiving questionable foreign funding — particularly from China. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem played key roles in advancing the proclamation and revoking Harvard’s certification to host international students.

Judge Burroughs, however, found the administration's actions to be likely in violation of Harvard's First Amendment rights. “The government’s misplaced efforts to control a reputable academic institution and squelch diverse viewpoints... threaten these rights,” she noted in her strongly worded decision.

Harvard, which is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, welcomed the ruling. Nearly 6,800 international students currently make up around 27% of its student population. University officials reiterated their commitment to defending the rights of scholars and maintaining academic freedom.

The White House did not issue an immediate response to the ruling.

Meanwhile, civil liberties groups and education rights advocates have celebrated the court’s intervention, pointing out that the ruling preserves not only academic integrity but also sets a precedent in resisting political overreach into educational spaces.

Amid the backdrop of campus protests over the Gaza conflict and rising antisemitism and Islamophobia in the US, Harvard has launched dedicated task forces to address both forms of hate. Their recent findings highlighted widespread concerns and called for institutional reforms.

As Harvard continues to challenge the Trump administration’s directives through legal avenues, this ruling serves as a decisive moment in the broader clash between academic freedom and political authority in the United States.