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Harvard Sues the Trump Administration Over Foreign Student Ban

Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The school is upset about a new government decision that will stop it from enrolling international students. Harvard believes this decision is unfair, illegal, and will hurt the university and thousands of students who come from other countries.

The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Boston. Harvard says the government’s action goes against the U.S. Constitution and federal laws. According to Harvard, the new policy will have a terrible effect on the school and more than 7,000 students who are in the U.S. on student visas.

International Students Are Important to Harvard

Harvard made it clear in the lawsuit that international students are a big part of its community. The university said that the government is trying to remove around 25% of its student body by blocking foreign students from enrolling.

Harvard said, “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.” These students help with research, take part in academic programs, and bring different ideas and cultures to the school.

Harvard Asks the Court to Stop the Government

Harvard asked the court to stop the government from moving forward with this decision. The school said that the change would cause “immediate and irreparable harm.” This means it could damage the school in a way that cannot be fixed.

The court has assigned the case to U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, who will hear the arguments and decide if the government’s action can continue or not.

The White House Dismisses the Lawsuit

The White House responded strongly to the lawsuit. A spokesperson, Abigail Jackson, said that Harvard should focus more on making the campus safe. She criticized the university for not dealing with people on campus who, according to her, promote dangerous or anti-American ideas.

Jackson said, “If only Harvard cared this much about ending anti-American and pro-terrorist behavior on campus, they wouldn’t be in this situation.”

She also said the lawsuit was a waste of time and money. Instead of going to court, she believes Harvard should work on creating a safer and more respectful environment for all students.

Homeland Security Announces the Ban

The decision to ban Harvard from enrolling international students came from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The announcement was made by Secretary Kristi Noem. She said the ban would take effect in the 2025–2026 academic year.

According to Noem, the decision was made because Harvard was promoting violence, antisemitism, and even working with the Chinese Communist Party. These are serious claims, and Harvard strongly denies them.

Harvard Defends Its Academic Freedom

Harvard’s president, Alan Garber, wrote a letter to the school’s community to explain the situation. He said the government’s actions are part of a pattern. In his view, the administration is trying to punish Harvard because the university refuses to give up its academic independence.

Garber said the government wants to control what the school teaches, who it hires as professors, and who it allows to be students. He believes this is not just an attack on Harvard, but on all schools that value freedom in education.

Thousands of Students May Be Affected

In the current academic year, Harvard has about 6,800 international students. That’s 27% of the total student population. Many of these students are involved in research, special programs, and other important activities.

Harvard said that the government’s decision could cancel offers made to thousands of new international students. It could also disrupt research labs, academic programs, and clinics just days before graduation. The school says the move is unfair to students who have worked hard to study at Harvard.

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The Government Demands Student Information

The issue began when Homeland Security asked Harvard to give detailed information about its international students. This happened on April 16, 2025. The government wanted to know which students had visas, what activities they were part of, and whether they had been involved in any protests.

In a letter attached to Harvard’s lawsuit, Secretary Noem said that Harvard was creating a “hostile learning environment for Jewish students” because it had failed to speak out against antisemitism.

Harvard Gets a 72-Hour Warning

On May 22, 2025, Noem gave Harvard just 72 hours to turn over a large number of records. These records included audio and video of student protests involving international students from the past five years. If Harvard failed to provide the information, the government said it would remove the university’s ability to enroll foreign students.

This demand caused great concern at Harvard. University leaders felt that it was unfair and unreasonable. They said it also violated the privacy rights of their students.

Harvard Says It Has Followed the Law

In his letter to the school community, President Garber said that Harvard has responded to all requests from the government, as required by law. He explained that the school follows the rules and works hard to keep all students safe.

Garber also stressed that the university would continue to stand up for its students, including those from other countries. He said Harvard would fight to protect its mission and values, no matter what.