Harvard University has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to block a controversial move by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that bars the Ivy League institution from enrolling foreign students — a measure affecting more than 7,000 visa holders, including hundreds from Canada.
Filed Friday in the U.S. District Court in Boston, the lawsuit accuses the federal government of unconstitutional retaliation, arguing that the action is a politically motivated response to Harvard’s refusal to comply with partisan demands. The university alleges the ban violates the First Amendment and would have a “devastating” impact on its international student body and institutional mission.
“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,” the university said in the court filing.
Harvard is also seeking an emergency temporary restraining order to prevent DHS from implementing the ban while litigation proceeds.
The policy, announced Thursday by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, accuses Harvard of fostering an unsafe campus climate and of failing to address incidents of antisemitism and alleged foreign influence. The DHS statement cited unverified claims that Harvard had allowed “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” to threaten Jewish students, and alleged ties between the university and the Chinese Communist Party, including hosting and training members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024.
University officials swiftly rejected the allegations. Harvard President Alan Garber emphasized that the university had already implemented major changes to governance and adopted a comprehensive strategy to combat antisemitism. However, Garber reiterated Harvard’s commitment to “core, legally protected principles,” stating the university would not yield to political coercion.
The move to strip Harvard’s foreign enrollment privileges stems from an April 16 demand by Secretary Noem for records identifying foreign students allegedly involved in disruptive protests. The administration gave Harvard 72 hours to hand over a wide range of data, including audio and video surveillance, and has since escalated its pressure campaign.
While Harvard has not yet responded to House Republican allegations about ties to China, the university has confirmed that it will defend its integrity in court.
The ban could have major implications for Canada, whose students make up one of the largest international cohorts at Harvard. In 2024, 788 Canadian students were enrolled across its programs.
The lawsuit follows a separate legal challenge Harvard filed earlier this year over $2 billion in federal education funding cuts imposed by the Trump administration, which critics say are part of a broader effort to punish academic institutions perceived as unsupportive of conservative agendas.
The Biden administration has yet to comment on the matter, and legal experts anticipate a prolonged battle that could have lasting implications for U.S. higher education and international student mobility.