Harvard sues Trump administration over ban on foreign students

Sylvie Claire / May 23 2025

The prestigious Harvard University filed a complaint against the US government on Friday. The complaint comes after the government banned Harvard from enrolling new foreign students on Thursday.

According to the university, the measure violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. “We condemn this illegal and unfounded action,” said Harvard President Alan Garber. “It jeopardizes the future of thousands of students and scholars at Harvard, and it serves as a warning to countless others across the country who have come to the United States to pursue their education and realize their dreams.”

The U.S. government's decision plunged thousands of international students into uncertainty on Thursday. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in the state of Massachusetts.

The ban on enrolling new international students will put even more financial pressure on Harvard. The Trump administration had already frozen more than $2.6 billion in funding for the university, and suspended future grants. The government criticizes the institution for failing to effectively combat alleged anti-Semitism on its campus.