Harvard University today filed a forceful complaint challenging President Trump’s proclamation to suspend the entry of international students, a move the Ivy League institution asserts is an unconstitutional act of retaliation. The filing, an amendment to an existing lawsuit, dramatically escalates a weeks-long legal battle between the White House and the prestigious university.
The President’s proclamation, issued Wednesday, ordered the suspension of entry for international students intending to attend Harvard and directed cabinet officials to consider revoking the visas of existing international students currently in the U.S. The suspension was initially set for at least 90 days.
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In its legal filing, Harvard argued that the President’s actions “are not undertaken to protect the interests of the United States,” but rather are driven by a “government vendetta against Harvard.”
The university emphasized the critical role international students play, stating, “With the stroke of a pen, the DHS Secretary and the President have sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission and the country.” The complaint starkly concluded, “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”
This latest escalation follows a prior attempt by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to terminate Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, a move that has been stalled in the courts by a temporary restraining order. Harvard’s amended complaint directly targets the President’s new proclamation as an attempt to circumvent that judicial order.
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Harvard President Alan Garber addressed the campus community, assuring students that the university is actively developing contingency plans to address the situation.
He reiterated the invaluable contributions of international students and scholars, stating, “International students and scholars make outstanding contributions inside and outside of our classrooms and laboratories, fulfilling our mission of excellence in countless ways.” Garber affirmed the university’s commitment: “We will celebrate them, support them, and defend their interests as we continue to assert our Constitutional rights.”
The White House and the Department of Homeland Security have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Harvard’s latest filing.
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