Harvard sues Trump administration for blocking foreign student enrolment

Harvard is suing the Trump administration after it revoked the university's ability to enrol international students, escalating a dispute between the White House and one of America's most prestigious institutions.

In the suit filed in Boston, the university called the administration's actions a "blatant violation" of the law.

It comes a day after officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said they would be revoking Harvard's access to student visa programmes.

The Trump administration says Harvard has not done enough to fight antisemitism and change its hiring and admissions practices – allegations that the university has strongly denied.

There are around 6,800 international students at Harvard, who make up more than 27% of its enrolments this year.

"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 argued in the lawsuit.

The university is asking for a court order to halt a move the DHS made on Thursday to revoke Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification - the mechanism by which it is allowed to enrol foreign students.

"We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action," Harvard President Alan Garber said in a letter.