Immigration authorities have been ordered by a federal choose to stop their efforts to arrest a Columbia College scholar who engaged in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. U.S. District Choose Naomi Buchwald issued the restraining order on Tuesday, simply someday after the coed filed her lawsuit.
Yunseo Chung, who has lived within the U.S. since she was 7 years previous, is suing President Donald Trump and a number of other members of his administration after federal authorities tried to arrest and deport her. Within the lawsuit, Chung’s attorneys say that the federal government’s pursuit of the Columbia scholar is an “unjustifiable assault on First Modification.”
The lawsuit states that Chung was a participant within the anti-Israel protests, not a frontrunner, and was “one of a big group of school college students” expressing “shared considerations” over the warfare in Gaza. Chung, in accordance with the lawsuit, “visited” the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, a variety of tents organized within the heart of campus, however doesn’t state whether or not she stayed there. The lawsuit additionally makes it clear that she didn’t make public statements or have interaction in high-profile actions whereas on the protests.
A professional-Palestinian demonstrator holds a flag on the rooftop of Hamilton Corridor at Columbia College in New York, on April 30, 2024. (Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photographs)
ISRAELI HOSTAGES’ FAMILIES SUE MAHMOUD KHALIL, COLUMBIA ORGANIZERS AS ALLEGED ‘HAMAS’ PROPAGANDA ARM’ IN NYC
Chung’s lawsuit states that she was by no means arrested or disciplined in relation to occasions on the encampment. Nonetheless, she was later arrested throughout a 2025 protest at Barnard Faculty. The lawsuit claims that it is not uncommon in New York Metropolis for police to arrest many protesters and that costs are normally dropped or dismissed.
The lawsuit states that on March 8, an ICE official signed an administrative arrest warrant for Chung and federal regulation enforcement went to Chung’s mother and father’ home the following day looking for to arrest her.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official allegedly advised Chung’s attorneys on March 10 that her inexperienced card had been “revoked,” in accordance with the lawsuit. The federal government has the authority to rescind everlasting resident standing in the event that they imagine an individual has violated U.S. immigration regulation.
Chung’s attorneys say within the lawsuit that regulation enforcement searched Chung’s dorm room on March 13 in accordance with a warrant.
Columbia College’s Gaza encampment and President Donald Trump (Getty Photographs)
COLUMBIA FACULTY HOLD ‘EMERGENCY VIGIL’ TO PROTEST UNIVERSITY RESPONSE TO TRUMP
“Yunseo Chung has engaged in regarding conduct, together with when she was arrested by NYPD throughout a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard Faculty. She is being searched for elimination proceedings below the immigration regulation,” a senior DHS spokesperson advised Fox Information Digital. “Chung could have a chance to current her case earlier than an immigration choose.”
Chung is the most recent anti-Israel scholar protester to face doable deportation.
Mahmoud Khalil, who’s a inexperienced card holder and the partner of a U.S. citizen, was arrested by ICE earlier this month and faces deportation. Khalil is accused of taking part in a significant function in anti-Israel protests at Columbia College.
The Trump administration claims Khalil didn’t disclose his employment with the United Nations Reduction and Works Company for Palestine Refugees within the Close to East (UNRWA). His arrest sparked protests throughout New York Metropolis, with many saying that the Trump administration was violating his proper to free speech.
Individuals display outdoors the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse, on the day of a listening to on the detention of Palestinian activist and Columbia College graduate scholar Mahmoud Khalil, in New York Metropolis, March 12, 2025. (Reuters/Shannon Stapleton)
The Trump administration has deemed that Khalil and Chung’s actions, and people of different scholar protesters, had been in assist of Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror group.
“ICE HSI will examine people engaged in actions in assist of Hamas, a overseas terrorist group. Primarily based on investigative findings, the Division of State could make a willpower which can lead to visa revocation or different motion impacting the immigration standing of an alien within the U.S. Upon the willpower from the Division of State, ICE will take applicable enforcement actions,” a DHS spokesperson advised Fox Information Digital.
Fox Information Digital’s Kitty Le Claire and Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.
