Harvard Files Lawsuit Following DHS Shutdown

Harvard University is – once again – suing the Trump Administration after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) enforced a ban on international students at America’s most prestigious Ivy League university. Harvard claims that President Trump’s ban violates the First Amendment and the civil rights of foreign students.

Harvard’s latest lawsuit against the Trump Administration stems back to its refusal to abide by the Administration’s expected protocols and hiring practices for universities. The protocols included a section devoted to “Reforming Programs with Egregious Records of Antisemitism or Other Bias.” And Harvard refused to address the open antisemitism on campus.

As a result, the Trump Administration stripped federal funding, leading to Harvard suing over its funding freeze of billions of taxpayer dollars. Altogether, the university looks to lose $3.2 billion in federal funding.

That leads to today’s news. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem sent a letter to Harvard, regarding the government’s authority to remove universities and colleges from the Student Exchange and Visitor Program if necessary. The Trump Administration has deemed Harvard as failing to comply with the law by refusing to curb the antisemitism on campus.

As a result, Harvard will no longer be able enroll students from other countries. Harvard claims this will affect “more than 7,000 visa holders.”

Noem informed Harvard that it can participate in the Student Exchange and Visitor Program again if it complies with the Administration’s requirements. However, instead of complying with the Trump Administration’s calls to reform antisemitism on campus, Harvard has chosen to file a lawsuit.

While we were on the air, the news broke that a federal judge filed a temporary restraining order (TRO) to block the Trump Administration’s action against Harvad. So again, we have the reoccurrence of a rogue activist judge stopping the Trump agenda.

The mainstream media is in an uproar about the international students being banned. But what about the civil rights of Jewish students at Harvard? However, DHS might have opened the door for a judge to block the decision by arguing that DEI policies are a national threat.

ACLJ Senior Counsel and Director of Policy Harry Hutchison explained more:

So if you read it carefully, [Noem’s letter] says the DHS is essentially excluding Harvard. Why? Because of an unsafe environment that is hostile to Jewish students. That Harvard promotes a pro-Hamas sympathy on campus and employs DEI policies. So I think the latter part of the DHS letter has simply gone too far. . . . Protecting the civil rights of Jewish students at Harvard should be a paramount consideration for the Department of Homeland Security. Protecting national security should be a paramount consideration. However, with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, we can argue that they are harmful, but they are not necessarily a national security threat. So by including that statement in its letter, I think the Department of Homeland Security has provided a basis for a judge to intervene.

The tragedy in Washington, D.C., of Israeli diplomats being murdered by a pro-Hamas radical is what happens when antisemitism is allowed to propagate. The blatant threats against Jewish students on college campuses must stop before more violence occurs on the streets of America.

The latest TRO by the federal judge is why the ACLJ filed an amicus brief at the U.S. Supreme Court. Just a week ago, we filed the brief on behalf of the state of West Virginia, arguing that rogue activist judges are abusing their authority. The oral arguments were focused on the power of district judges to issue nationwide injunctions.

We need district judges to stay in their lane. And we hope that presidential Executive authority is preserved. We need it now more than ever to protect Jewish students and Israelis in America.

Today’s Sekulow broadcast included a full analysis of Harvard’s lawsuit against the Trump Administration over international students being banned. Also, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the tragedy in D.C., and ACLJ Senior Advisor for National Security and Foreign Policy Ric Grenell reacted to Venezuela freeing a U.S. Air Force veteran.

Watch the full broadcast below: