The university claims the move is an unconstitutional act of retaliation for not complying with political demands from the White House, Sky News reports.

Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the Donald Trump administration challenging its decision to bar the university from enrolling international students.

The university claims the move is an unconstitutional act of retaliation for not complying with political demands from the White House, Sky News reports.

The lawsuit, filed on Friday in federal court in Boston, argues that the government’s action violates the First Amendment and will have an "immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders."

Harvard is seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing the ban.

"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 said in its legal filing.

Harvard enrols nearly 6,800 international students at its Cambridge, Massachusetts campus. Most of these students are graduate students from over 100 countries.

The Department of Homeland Security announced the ban on Thursday, accusing Harvard of allowing "anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators" to assault Jewish students on campus.

The department also alleged that Harvard coordinated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and hosted members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024.

Earlier this month, Harvard President Alan Garber said the university had made changes to governance, including efforts to combat antisemitism.

He added the school would stand firm on "its core, legally-protected principles" despite threats of retaliation.

Harvard said it will respond later to the CCP-related allegations first raised by House Republicans.

The ban follows a 16 April demand from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who requested that Harvard provide records of foreign students who might have been involved in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation.

Noem gave the university 72 hours to produce extensive records, including audio and video footage of students participating in protests or dangerous activities.

This lawsuit is separate from an earlier case in which Harvard challenged a freeze of more than $2 billion in federal funding imposed by the Republican administration.