Harvard sues Trump administration over foreign student ban, calls move unconstitutional

Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to bar the Ivy League institution from enrolling foreign students, calling it unconstitutional and politically motivated retaliation.

In a complaint submitted to a federal court in Boston, Harvard described the administration’s action as a “blatant violation” of the US Constitution and federal laws. The decision has had an “immediate and devastating effect” on the university and more than 7,000 international visa holders, the suit said.

The timing of the revocation, just days before graduation, has caused widespread disruption on campus. International students—many of whom serve as teaching assistants, research lab managers, and student-athletes—are now faced with the dilemma of either transferring to another institution or risking the loss of their legal immigration status.

Harvard highlighted the disproportionate impact on its graduate schools, such as the Harvard Kennedy School, where nearly half of the students are from abroad, and Harvard Business School, which has a roughly one-third international student body.

The lawsuit also notes that the move blocks thousands of incoming students scheduled to begin summer and fall terms, further deepening the impact on the university’s academic and research programmes.

“With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission,” Harvard said.

“It is the latest act by the government in clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the government’s demands to control Harvard’s governance, curriculum, and the ‘ideology’ of its faculty and students,” the university added.

Harvard said it immediately puts the school at a disadvantage as it competes for the world’s top students. Even if it regains the ability to host students, “future applicants may shy away from applying out of fear of further reprisals from the government,” the suit said.

If the government’s action stands, Harvard said, the university would be unable to offer admission to new international students for at least the next two academic years. Schools that have that certification withdrawn by the federal government are ineligible to reapply until one year afterward, Harvard said.

Harvard enrolls almost 6,800 foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Most are graduate students and they come from more than 100 countries.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday ordered the termination of Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, effective with the 2025-2026 academic year.

She accused Harvard of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.”

Harvard enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in its current school year, equal to 27% of total enrollment, according to university statistics.

It said the revocation would force it to retract admissions for thousands of people, and has thrown “countless” academic programs, clinics, courses and research laboratories into disarray, just a few days before graduation.

“Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard,” the 389-year-old school said.

With inputs from agencies