Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after it banned the school’s student visa program for not producing behavior records of foreign students who participated in protests on its campus — a move that was swiftly blocked by a federal judge Friday.
According to the Associated Press, the lawsuit was filed Friday in a federal court in Boston, with the Ivy League school saying the move violates the First Amendment and will have an “immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders.”
“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,” Harvard said in the lawsuit. “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”
Harvard announced its intention to seek a temporary restraining order to prevent the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from proceeding with the action. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs granted the temporary restraining order.
According to the lawsuit, the decision has caused significant disruption on campus just days before graduation. International students who contribute to research, teach classes, support faculty, and take part in university athletics now face the difficult choice of transferring schools or risking their legal status to remain in the country.
Graduate programs, particularly the Harvard Kennedy School — where nearly half of the students are international — and Harvard Business School, with about one-third of its student body from abroad, are experiencing the greatest effects. Beyond disrupting current students, the decision also prevents thousands of incoming students from attending summer and fall courses.
“Future applicants may shy away from applying out of fear of further reprisals from the government,” Harvard said in the lawsuit.
DHS made the announcement Thursday, and said Harvard was allowing “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” to assault Jewish students, and further claimed the school is coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Harvard would be able to once again host foreign students if records on their behavior are given to the department within 72 hours. This includes any audio or video footage of foreign students participating in dangerous activity or protests on campus.
