Fact Check: Harvard's lawsuit claims illegal retaliation for rejecting White House demands.

Fact Check: Harvard's Lawsuit Claims Illegal Retaliation for Rejecting White House Demands

What We Know

Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), claiming that the withdrawal of its certification to host foreign students constitutes illegal retaliation for rejecting demands from the White House. The lawsuit alleges that the actions taken by the DHS were in response to Harvard's refusal to comply with various requests related to campus policies, including those concerning protests, admissions, and hiring practices (source-1). The university argues that these actions violate its First Amendment rights and amount to viewpoint discrimination (source-1).

In May 2025, the DHS revoked Harvard's certification, which would have forced approximately 7,000 foreign students to either transfer or risk being in the U.S. illegally. This move was described by Harvard as a direct consequence of its refusal to adhere to the White House's demands (source-3). A federal judge subsequently issued a temporary order allowing Harvard to continue hosting foreign students while the lawsuit is ongoing (source-5).

Analysis

The claim that Harvard's lawsuit is based on illegal retaliation for rejecting White House demands is substantiated by multiple sources. The lawsuit explicitly states that the DHS's actions were retaliatory in nature, aimed at punishing Harvard for its noncompliance with government directives (source-1). The university's assertion is further supported by the context provided in news reports, which detail the ongoing tensions between Harvard and the Trump administration regarding various policy issues (source-5, source-7).

The credibility of the sources is generally high, particularly the legal document filed by Harvard, which provides a formal account of the allegations. News reports from established outlets like CBS and the New York Post also corroborate the claims made in the lawsuit, although it is important to note that these outlets may have varying editorial slants. The New York Post, for instance, has been known to have a conservative bias, which could influence its framing of the story (source-5).

Conclusion

The claim that Harvard's lawsuit alleges illegal retaliation for rejecting White House demands is True. The evidence presented in the lawsuit and corroborated by multiple news sources indicates that Harvard is asserting its rights against what it perceives as retaliatory actions by the DHS in response to its refusal to comply with government demands.

Fact Check: Harvard's lawsuit claims illegal retaliation for rejecting White House demands.