Columbia University students sue Trump administration for threats of deportation
A Columbia student, a legal permanent resident of the United States and participated in a pro-Palestinian protest, sued President Donald Trump’s administration on a week ago to prevent her from deportation, a court application showed.
Yunseo Chung, 21, has lived in the U.S. since she was seven, but her legal team was told two weeks ago that her legal permanent resident status was being revoked.
The Trump administration said her U.S. presence hindered its foreign policy agenda according to the lawsuit. Chung has not been arrested yet. Immigration agents made several visits to her residence.
The lawsuit on Monday said the action against Zhong was “part of a larger pattern of U.S. government protests against constitutional protection and other forms of speech.”
“The government’s crackdown focused specifically on college students who supported the Palestinians and criticized the Israeli government for criticizing the ongoing military campaign in Gaza.”
A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Chung was involved in the conduct, including when she was arrested by police during a protest at Barnard College, which DHS called it a “family.”
A DHS spokesman did not provide further details about the conduct, but said she “seeks to revoke the proceedings under immigration law” and would have the opportunity to file a case with an immigration judge.
Trump has pledged to expel foreign pro-Palestinian protesters and accused them of supporting the radical group Hamas, posing obstacles to U.S. foreign policy and anti-Semitism.
Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the government has mistakenly combined their criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian rights with anti-Semitism and support for Hamas. Human rights advocates condemn the government’s actions.
