Cambridge, Massachusetts — Just a day after the Trump administration rescinded Harvard University’s authorization to enroll international students, the university has initiated legal action against the federal government. Harvard has filed a lawsuit and will seek a temporary restraining order to contest the decision.
In a letter from Harvard’s President, Alan Garber, the university strongly criticized the administration’s decision, calling it “unlawful and unwarranted.” He emphasized the negative impact the revocation could have on thousands of students and scholars associated with Harvard and warned that it could set a concerning precedent for institutions nationwide.
The federal government had previously issued an ultimatum in April, requiring Harvard to provide comprehensive records on its foreign students or risk losing its certification. Garber indicated that the university had complied with the Department of Homeland Security’s requests as mandated by law.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem deemed the university’s compliance insufficient. However, she stated that Harvard would have another chance to maintain its status by delivering detailed records within a 72-hour window.
With roughly 27% of its student body coming from abroad, Harvard’s diversity is a significant aspect of its academic community. Garber reiterated the vital role international students play at Harvard, calling them integral members of the university, and assured affected individuals of the institution’s commitment to support them.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) enables universities to issue visa application forms for international students. Compliance with SEVP certification is crucial; if revoked, Harvard would be barred from enrolling new international students, forcing current ones to either transfer, leave the country, or alter their immigration status.
Harvard has faced increasing tensions with the federal government since April, marked by numerous terminations of federal research grants. The university has grappled with cuts amounting to $450 million and a freeze of $2.2 billion in federal funds. High-ranking government officials, including Education Secretary Linda McMahon, have warned that Harvard could be prevented from acquiring new federal grants unless it fulfills the administration’s demands.
Garber expressed in his correspondence with McMahon a mutual understanding but firmly stated that the university would not compromise its core principles due to governmental pressure. Harvard had already filed a lawsuit in April, asserting that the federal government’s threats to withdraw funding violated its constitutional rights. Following the announced funding cuts, the university adapted its legal claims.
Such governmental overreach, Garber contended, should not dictate the admissions, hiring, or academic pursuits of private institutions, regardless of the political climate. In response to the funding challenges, Harvard pledged $250 million in central funding to support research impacted by the loss of federal grants.
This complex situation highlights the ongoing struggle between Harvard and federal authorities, illustrating broader concerns regarding academic freedom and the treatment of international students in the United States.
This article was automatically written by OpenAI, and the people, facts, circumstances, and story may be inaccurate. Any article can be requested for removal, retraction, or correction by writing an email to contact@publiclawlibrary.org.