Harvard University has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the administration of US President Donald Trump’s decision to bar it from enrolling international students, calling the move unconstitutional and retaliatory. The suit argues that the action violates the First Amendment and threatens the status of over 7,000 foreign visa holders.
Filed in Boston, the complaint follows Homeland Security’s demand that Harvard turn over detailed records of foreign students involved in protests or risk losing its ability to host them. The university plans to seek a temporary restraining order to block enforcement of the order.
The administration accuses Harvard of fostering a hostile environment and links the university to alleged ties with China’s Communist Party. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the crackdown is meant to “warn” other schools.
This is Harvard’s second lawsuit against the administration, following a previous challenge to $2.2 billion in frozen federal funds. The university says the administration is pressuring it to change policies and leadership.
China, which accounts for a significant portion of Harvard’s international student body, criticized the ban, warning it could harm U.S. global credibility.
