Harvard University has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration after Homeland Security abruptly revoked the school’s authorization to enroll foreign students, threatening the academic futures of thousands and escalating an already fierce standoff between the Ivy League institution and the White House.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, accuses the administration of retaliation and ideological overreach, arguing that the decision violates constitutional protections and undermines the autonomy of American higher education.
“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 stated in its filing.
The legal challenge comes a day after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the move, citing concerns over “anti-Semitism, ideological extremism, and coordination with the Chinese Communist Party” on Harvard’s campus — allegations the university firmly denies.
President Donald Trump has personally targeted Harvard in recent weeks, accusing the school of fostering what he called “woke liberalism” and failing to rein in ideological bias.
The administration has already frozen $2.2 billion in federal grants and $60 million in official contracts linked to Harvard and has threatened to put $9 billion more under review. A Harvard Medical School researcher has also reportedly been targeted for deportation.
International students make up over 25% of Harvard’s student body, contributing significantly to its tuition revenue and global reputation. The sudden enrollment ban could trigger academic disruptions and financial losses, while sending a chilling message to prospective international applicants.
In a statement, Harvard President Alan Garber condemned the action as “unlawful and unwarranted,” warning that it “imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars” and threatens the nation’s standing in global education.
“We have just filed a complaint, and a motion for a temporary restraining order will follow,” Garber said Friday.
China, whose students represent over one-fifth of Harvard’s international population, criticized the move. “This decision will only harm the image and international standing of the United States,” said foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, denouncing the “politicization of educational cooperation.”
Student groups and faculty members reacted with alarm. The Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors called the ban “a nakedly authoritarian and retaliatory move against America’s oldest institution of higher education.”
Karl Molden, a 21-year-old Austrian student studying government and classics, said he has applied to transfer to Oxford University in the U.K. out of fear. “It’s scary and saddening,” he said. “Being admitted to Harvard was the greatest privilege of my life.”
This isn’t the first time Harvard has taken the Trump administration to court. The university is already challenging previous measures affecting visas and academic freedom.
The new case could set a critical precedent for federal control over university governance and international education policy.
