Harvard University filed a federal lawsuit Friday to block the Trump administration from stripping its ability to enroll international students, calling the move unconstitutional retaliation for rejecting White House political demands.
The suit, filed in Boston, argues the ban violates the First Amendment and would have an “immediate and devastating effect” on Harvard and the 7,000+ visa holders who comprise roughly 25% of its student body. The university is also seeking a temporary restraining order against the Department of Homeland Security.
DHS, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, announced Thursday that Harvard had created an “unsafe” campus, accusing it of allowing anti-American protesters and hosting Chinese paramilitary affiliates. The administration demanded detailed records on foreign students’ involvement in campus protests, threatening revocation unless delivered within 72 hours.
Harvard President Alan Garber acknowledged governance reforms and efforts to combat antisemitism, but affirmed the university would not yield its “core, legally-protected principles.”
This is the second major legal action Harvard has taken against the Trump administration. The first challenges over $2 billion in rescinded federal funding tied to diversity and governance demands.
Harvard says DHS’s demands are unprecedented, unlawful, and punitive. The university’s legal filing warns the ban would erode academic freedom and damage U.S. higher education’s global standing.
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