Columbia University Student Challenges Deportation After Protest Involvement

Columbia University Student Challenges Deportation After Protest Involvement

A Columbia University student has taken legal action against President Donald Trump and key members of his administration. This comes after efforts to revoke her permanent resident status and deport her from the United States.

The lawsuit, filed on Monday, cites an administrative warrant issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for 21-year-old Yunseo Chung’s arrest. The South Korean native was informed that her resident status was being revoked.

The court filing asserts that the actions of the Trump administration represent a broader pattern of government repression directed at constitutionally protected protest activities. The lawsuit claims that the government has particularly targeted university students who express solidarity with Palestinians and criticize the ongoing military campaign in Gaza, along with pro-Israeli policies endorsed by the U.S. administration.

The suit names several high-ranking officials, including President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Acting Director of ICE Todd Lyons, and Acting Field Office Director of New York ICE William Joyce.

According to the lawsuit, these actions constitute an unprecedented assault on First Amendment rights and other civil liberties, arguing that immigration enforcement should not be weaponized to punish noncitizens who voice dissenting political opinions. The lawsuit states that immigration enforcement tactics, such as detention and deportation, should not be used against speakers whose views are unfavorable to the administration.

Yunseo Chung is a junior at Columbia, recognized for her academic excellence as a high school valedictorian. She has navigated her education in the U.S. since arriving legally as her father pursued graduate studies. Currently, she maintains an impressive GPA of 3.99.

Although Chung has actively participated in on-campus pro-Palestinian protests, she has not sought media attention or held a prominent position unlike Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia student also facing deportation under related circumstances.

Media coverage of Chung increased after she participated in a protest on March 5, where she was arrested for allegedly obstructing governmental administration. The university later exonerated her from any wrongdoing following internal disciplinary proceedings regarding her protest activities.

Shortly after her arrest, the lawsuit claims ICE agents visited her family home in search of her and conducted a search of her dormitory. The legal representatives stated that senior government officials are attempting to leverage immigration enforcement as a tool to suppress dissenting speech, exemplified by the actions against Chung.

On Tuesday, a federal court imposed a temporary restraining order on ICE, prohibiting them from arresting or deporting Chung. The duration of this order will be revisited based on subsequent court decisions.

The lawsuit further argues that the government is infringing upon her freedom of speech, justifying their actions by labeling her a threat to national foreign policy and seeking to negate her immigration status.

In recent statements, the Trump administration has signaled its intent to target foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests, branding them as supportive of Hamas. A White House fact sheet quoted Trump warning resident aliens participating in such protests that they would face deportation in 2025 and that he would take measures to cancel student visas for individuals identified as Hamas sympathizers.

In a statement provided to Fox News, a representative from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security indicated that Chung had engaged in behavior deemed concerning but would be allowed to defend herself before an immigration judge. The spokesperson emphasized that ICE would investigate involvement in activities supporting Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization. Investigative findings could lead the Department of State to revoke visas or take other actions that impact the immigration status of individuals in the U.S.

As the legal proceedings continue, Fox News Digital has sought comments from Chung’s attorney, Naz Ahmad, along with inquiries directed at the White House and ICE.

Contributions to this report were made by Brendan McDonald of Fox News.