Harvard sues Trump administration over ban on foreign students and wins first court victory

Harvard University is suing the Trump administration for blocking the school from enrolling international students, calling it unconstitutional and harmful to its mission. The university filed the lawsuit in a federal court in Boston on Friday, May 17, 2025, arguing that the move violates its First Amendment rights and affects more than 7,000 visa-holding students.

Harvard said the action is a serious threat to its identity and global standing. Graduate schools like the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, which have large numbers of international students, would be hardest hit. The lawsuit warns that the university’s ability to attract top global talent is at risk.

“With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission,” the university stated. “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”

In addition to harming current students, the decision blocks thousands of new students planning to join for summer and fall classes. The university asked the court for a temporary restraining order to stop the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from carrying out the decision, which would cut Harvard off from a key system that manages international student enrollment.

U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs responded by issuing a temporary restraining order, halting the administration’s move for now. This court case marks another clash between Harvard and the White House.

“We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action,” said Harvard President Alan Garber. “The revocation continues a series of government actions to retaliate against Harvard for our refusal to surrender our academic independence and to submit to the federal government’s illegal assertion of control over our curriculum, our faculty, and our student body.”

The White House responded by criticizing Harvard. Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson stated:“If only Harvard cared this much about ending the scourge of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators on their campus they wouldn’t be in this situation to begin with.”

Harvard also warned that many international students, who often pay full tuition, could lose legal status. “I’m in shock,” said Kat Xie, a Chinese STEM student.

This lawsuit follows other government actions, including freezing $2.2 billion in funding, and signals Harvard’s readiness to fight for its independence.