US judge blocks directive banning entry of international Harvard students

A federal judge in Boston on June 5 temporarily blocked US President Donald Trump from barring the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programmes at Harvard University.

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Under a two-page temporary restraining order granted to Harvard, US District Judge Allison Burroughs enjoined Mr Trump's proclamation from taking effect pending further litigation of the matter amid an escalating dispute between the Ivy League school and the Republican President.

The judge ruled that Mr Trump's directive prohibiting foreign nationals from entering the US to study at Harvard for the next six months would cause "immediate and irreparable injury" before the courts have a chance to review the case.

Judge Burroughs had in May blocked Mr Trump from implementing a separate order prohibiting Harvard from enrolling international students, who make up more than a quarter of its student body.

Harvard on June 5 amended its lawsuit to challenge the new directive, claiming Mr Trump is violating the judge's decision.

"The proclamation denies thousands of Harvard's students the right to come to this country to pursue their education and follow their dreams, and it denies Harvard the right to teach them. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard," the school said in the filing.