The US Supreme Court has struck down a law on affirmative action. In the majority decision, the court said considering race a factor in college admissions is unconstitutional.

The ruling involved lawsuits filed against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina by a group called Students for Fair Admissions.

The group claimed the schools admitted Black and Hispanic students who were unqualified and discriminated against white and Asian American applicants.

The justices decided the programs were not consistent with the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause, which guards against discrimination.

A majority agreed the admissions policies lack "measurable objectives" warranting the use of race.

Officials at Harvard posted an open letter saying they will comply with the decision.

But they maintain that learning depends on a community "comprising people of many backgrounds" and perspectives.

President Joe Biden criticized the ruling, saying the court walked away from decades of precedent.

Biden said, "We need to keep an open door of opportunities. We need to remember that diversity is our strength. We have to find a way forward."

Officials with the departments of justice and education plan to provide college administrators with further guidance in the coming weeks.

They will advise them on what practices and programs are still lawful.