Merve Aydogan
23 May 2025•Update: 23 May 2025
HAMILTON, Canada
Harvard University filed a lawsuit Friday against the Trump administration after its authority to enroll international students was revoked for the 2025-26 academic year.
"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," Alan M. Garber, the university president, said in a letter to the community.
The revocation, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, strips Harvard of its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), affecting both F- and J-visa holders.
Harvard condemned the move, calling it "unlawful and unwarranted."
"It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard," Gerber said.
The complaint noted that the revocation is part of a broader campaign to punish the university for "its refusal to surrender its academic independence or relinquish its constitutional rights."
"Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard," it stated.
Garber further stressed that the government claimed the decision stemmed from Harvard's failure to comply with requests from the Department of Homeland Security, but "in fact, Harvard did respond to the Department's requests as required by law."
Describing the international students and scholars as "vital members" of its community, the Harvard president pledged to "support you as we do our utmost to ensure that Harvard remains open to the world."
The Trump administration has already frozen more than $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard and $60 million in contracts.
Harvard has sued the administration in response, alleging that the funding freeze violates the First Amendment and federal law, which bars the president from directly or indirectly ordering the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to conduct or terminate an audit or investigation.
Harvard President Alan Garber announced last week that the university will use $250 million of its own funds to support research.
The Trump administration has also threatened to freeze federal funding for many universities, including Harvard, citing campus protests in support of Palestine and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.
