Harvard Sues Trump Administration Over Ban on International Students

Harvard University has launched a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawful retaliation following the revocation of the university’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification.

Filed less than 24 hours after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) blocked Harvard from enrolling international students—who make up nearly 25% of its student body—the lawsuit claims the move violates the institution’s First Amendment rights and autonomy.

In a letter to the Harvard community, Provost Dr. Alan M. Garber condemned the DHS decision as “illegal and dangerous,” warning of its broad and damaging implications.

“We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action,” Garber wrote. “It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others.”

Harvard also sought a temporary restraining order to block the decision, citing it as a direct threat to the university’s identity. “With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body… Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard,” the lawsuit states, as reported by The New York Times.

The legal challenge follows an April 16 demand by DHS for detailed records of student protest activities, including footage and disciplinary files of international students. Harvard claims it complied fully by 30 April but was later told its response was “insufficient” without explanation.

The university argues the government’s actions are politically motivated, describing them as part of a broader effort to control elite, left-leaning institutions. President Trump has previously branded Ivy League universities “Marxist maniacs” and justified recent actions as a crackdown on antisemitism and campus bias.

With Harvard facing multiple federal investigations, the case is expected to set a critical precedent on academic freedom, immigration policy, and university independence.

Source : Money Control