A federal judge has blocked U.S. President Donald Trump's proclamation restricting new internation students to Harvard University. The ruling prevents enforcement while the case proceeds, and also extends protection for Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification.

As legal battles drag out, and possibly work their way up to a firmly conservative Supreme Court, the school is at an increasing disadvantage, some observers point out.

This week, a federal judge sided with Harvard in one of its two lawsuits, blocking an order by President Trump to prevent international students from enrolling.