Cambridge, Massachusetts, a city known for its progressive politics and home to Harvard University and MIT, has emerged as a key battleground in legal disputes with the Trump administration. Beyond Harvard’s high-profile lawsuits challenging federal restrictions on international students and research funding, the city itself has joined multiple federal cases to defend its immigrant communities, homelessness programs, and local economy.
Sanctuary city protections under threat
Cambridge, which first declared itself a sanctuary city in 1985, has faced federal pressure over policies that limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Trump administration has repeatedly attempted to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities, prompting Cambridge to join a lawsuit initially filed by San Francisco challenging these funding restrictions. Judges have issued preliminary injunctions temporarily blocking the administration’s policies, and appeals are ongoing.At a recent City Council meeting, Cambridge lawmakers amended the city’s Welcoming Community Ordinance to further restrict police involvement in federal immigration operations. The amendments prevent local officers from providing escorts for ICE agents or assisting in “traffic control” during federal operations and require verification of federal agents’ identities before any interaction. According to Councilor Patricia M. “Patty” Nolan ’80, the city faces legal battles “practically every week” due to federal actions.The Department of Homeland Security briefly included Cambridge on a list of 200 jurisdictions allegedly violating federal law but later removed it after nationwide backlash. These measures reflect the city’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding its immigrant population, even amid continued federal scrutiny.
Protecting funding for homeless services
Cambridge has also joined the lawsuit King County v. Turner, which challenges new federal conditions on grants provided to cities and counties that support homeless populations. The lawsuit opposes executive orders linking federal funding to compliance with policies restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, “gender ideology,” and abortion-related services.Cambridge receives more than $6.4 million annually from HUD’s Continuum of Care grant, which supports housing and services for unhoused residents. A preliminary injunction allows Cambridge to continue using these funds without adhering to the new conditions, safeguarding programs that include intake services, supportive housing projects, and leasing assistance. Local advocacy groups, such as On the Rise, warn that disruptions in federal funding could have ripple effects across the city’s social service ecosystem, affecting multiple nonprofits and individuals transitioning out of homelessness.
Backing Harvard and university research
While Cambridge is not a direct party in Harvard’s lawsuits against the federal government, city officials have expressed strong support for the University’s legal challenges. The city plans to file an amicus brief backing Harvard’s case against federal attempts to limit its ability to host international students—a move that could affect more than 10,000 foreign students, researchers, and faculty members, according to The Harvard Crimson.Additionally, Cambridge signed an amicus brief opposing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) cap on indirect cost reimbursements. The policy, which limits institutions to a 15 percent reimbursement rate, could threaten more than $2.7 billion in multiyear funding for Massachusetts research institutions, including Harvard, MIT, and the Broad Institute. According to plaintiffs in the lawsuit, such caps “will devastate critical public health research at universities and research institutions in the United States”, as reported by The Harvard Crimson.
Economic implications for Cambridge
Harvard, MIT, and affiliated research centers are among Cambridge’s largest employers, providing over 20,000 jobs. Restrictions on immigration, student programs, or research funding could have significant economic repercussions for the city. City Council resolutions have repeatedly urged local institutions to resist federal pressures, highlighting Cambridge’s dedication to both social and economic priorities.As the Trump administration continues to pursue policies affecting sanctuary cities, homelessness funding, and higher education, Cambridge appears prepared to remain a key legal and political adversary. Its efforts reflect a broader commitment to defending immigrant rights, preserving critical social services, and supporting research institutions that drive innovation and employment in the city.
