Harvard University has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump Administration, seeking to block the government’s revocation of its ability to enrol international students. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Boston, follows the Department of Homeland Security’s abrupt decision to revoke the university’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
In the court filing, Harvard argues that the move constitutes a violation of its First Amendment rights, describing the action as “retaliation” for the university’s refusal to comply with government demands regarding campus governance, curriculum, and ideology.
“It is the latest act by the government in clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights,” the complaint states, accusing the Administration of attempting to exert political influence over academic freedom.
The decision, announced Thursday by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, bars Harvard from admitting new international students and requires existing foreign students to transfer or risk losing legal residency. The policy, effective immediately, affects nearly 6,800 international students — about 27% of Harvard’s student body — many of whom pay full tuition and are critical to the university’s $6 billion annual budget.
Harvard spokesperson Jason A. Newton condemned the decision, calling it “unlawful” and warning that it would cause “serious harm” to the university’s academic mission and to the broader U.S. higher education landscape. “We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host our international students and scholars,” Newton said.
In a public letter, Secretary Noem cited a range of grievances, including Harvard’s failure to submit requested documents, its diversity and inclusion policies, and its handling of campus protests related to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Noem also alleged — without presenting evidence — that Harvard had fostered a “hostile environment for Jewish students,” expressed “pro-Hamas sympathies,” and maintained links to the Chinese Communist Party.
The Administration’s action is part of a broader campaign against elite academic institutions. In recent months, federal authorities have threatened to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status and terminated $60 million in research funding.
A White House spokesperson said Thursday that “Harvard has turned their once-great institution into a hotbed of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators” and must now “face the consequences.” The spokesperson added, “Enrolling foreign students is a privilege, not a right.”
The clash highlights growing tensions between the Trump Administration and the academic sector, as critics accuse the government of weaponizing immigration and funding policies for political ends. A separate federal ruling this week temporarily blocked the Administration from detaining or relocating international students pending further legal review.