In a significant legal move, Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the federal government following a new policy that prevents international students from continuing their education in the United States if their courses are fully online.
The university argues that the decision is both unjust and disruptive, especially as institutions nationwide adapt to remote learning during the ongoing health crisis. According to Harvard, the policy threatens the academic futures of thousands of international students and undermines the global educational leadership of American universities.
University officials maintain that the administration’s abrupt change forces foreign students into an impossible situation—either attend in-person classes during a pandemic or risk deportation. Harvard has emphasized that the policy disregards public health concerns and violates the principles of academic freedom.
The lawsuit seeks an immediate reversal of the policy, calling it “arbitrary and capricious,” and aims to protect the rights and safety of international students enrolled at the institution.
The case marks a pivotal moment in the broader debate over immigration and education policy in the U.S., with many watching closely for its national implications.