A United States judge has temporarily blocked the President Donald Trump’s administration from enforcing a ban that would have barred Harvard University from admitting international students.

Judge Allison Burroughs, based in Massachusetts, issued a temporary restraining order, stating that Harvard would suffer “immediate and irreparable injury” if the ban took effect.

The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by Harvard, which accused Trump of launching a “government vendetta” aimed at suppressing free speech.

Trump defended a proposed ban on the grounds of national security and has criticized Harvard University for failing to adequately combat antisemitism on campus.

The federal judge’s order was issued shortly after Harvard revised its lawsuit against the US government, alleging that Trump’s actions are part of a deliberate and intensifying campaign of retaliation, punishing Harvard for exercising its First Amendment free speech rights.

Harvard President Alan Garber released a statement noting that the university is preparing contingency plans for international students unable to travel to campus.

The world’s richest university has been locked in a legal dispute with the Trump administration, which froze billions in federal funding, accusing Harvard of failing to address campus antisemitism.