Harvard sues Trump administration for banning enrolment of international students

In a statement, Harvard President Dr Alan M Garber condemned the "unlawful and unwarranted action" and said the Ivy League university has filed a legal petition for a restraining order on the revocation.

"We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action. It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams," Garber said.

"We have just filed a complaint, and a motion for a temporary restraining order will follow. As we pursue legal remedies, we will do everything in our power to support our students and scholars. The Harvard International Office will provide periodic updates as new information becomes available," he added.

The move came hours after the Donald Trump administration revoked Harvard's right to enrol international students, under a federal government scheme called the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

More than 6,000 international students were enrolled at Harvard during the 2024-2025 academic year, representing 27.3% of the student body, the university said.

The administration said the decision was taken amid an ongoing investigation into the university by the Department of Homeland Security.

A letter was sent to the university by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

"Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law," Noem wrote.

However, the letter sent to Harvard University mentioned that if the institution wants the opportunity to regain Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification before the upcoming academic school year, they should provide the information required within "72 hours".

The Trump administration has for weeks locked horns with Harvard and other higher education institutions over claims that they tolerate anti-Semitism on their campuses, threatening their budgets, tax-exempt status, and enrolment of foreign students.

It is not the first time Harvard has approached the court against the government.

In April, it had challenged the administration's decision to freeze $2.3 billion in funding. Garber said the university "will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights".