(TJV NEWS) A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s decision to strip Harvard University of its ability to enroll and host international students, following a lawsuit from the university that called the move unconstitutional.

The suspension, issued Friday by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Massachusetts, halts Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s Thursday order that revoked Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). A hearing on the injunction is scheduled for May 29.

President Donald Trump, who has accused Harvard of promoting antisemitism and progressive ideology, has ramped up pressure on the institution. His administration has threatened to review up to $9 billion in federal funding, frozen $2.2 billion in grants, and withheld $60 million in official contracts. The White House has also targeted a researcher affiliated with Harvard Medical School for deportation.

In its lawsuit, Harvard argued that the administration’s actions are retaliatory and infringe on the university’s First Amendment rights. The complaint described the government’s move as “arbitrary, capricious, unlawful, and unconstitutional.”

The potential loss of foreign students — who make up more than 25% of Harvard’s student body — could deal a significant financial blow to the university, which charges substantial tuition fees.

Harvard President Alan Garber condemned the administration’s action ahead of Friday’s ruling, calling it “unlawful and unwarranted.”

“This decision threatens the futures of thousands of students and scholars at Harvard and sends a chilling message to others across the country who came here to pursue education and their dreams,” Garber said.

Noem, defending the revocation, said Thursday the administration is “holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party on campus.”

According to Harvard, Chinese students constitute over 20% of its international enrollment. In response, Beijing criticized the U.S. move, warning it could damage America’s global reputation. “China opposes the politicization of educational exchanges,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.

This is not the first time Harvard has taken legal action against the federal government over punitive policies. The university’s faculty association has called the administration’s campaign “a nakedly authoritarian and retaliatory effort against America’s oldest university.”