A student at Columbia University, Yunseo Chung, has sued the Trump administration to prevent her deportation after she attended pro-Palestinian rallies on campus. Chung, an American legal permanent resident from South Korea, immigrated there at age seven and argues that immigration authorities have singled her out since she took part in protests against Israel’s Gaza war.
Legal Battle Over Deportation
The 21-year-old student claims the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) carried out several search warrants at Columbia University, including at her dorm. The lawsuit aims to prevent her deportation and detention, stating the government is violating her constitutional rights, specifically her First Amendment rights, which protect her right to protest peacefully.
Chung’s attorneys claim that while she joined campus demonstrations, she did not play a leading role or issue statements to the press, in contrast to Mahmoud Khalil, another high-profile pro-Palestinian activist recently arrested by the Trump administration. Khalil, who played a role in mediating between student protesters and university administrators, was arrested, leading to mass protests.
Government’s Actions and Allegations
The suit alleges that Chung’s attempts at arrest started after her involvement in a sit-in demonstration on March 5, 2025, at Barnard College, that was connected with student expulsions for pro-Palestinian activities. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials are accused of signing an arrest warrant against Chung on March 8, and agents searched her parents’ residence for her.
Her attorneys contend that the Trump administration is following a pattern of deporting people who participate in Palestinian rights protests in retaliation for their political speech. The suit also singles out other students who are being deported, including Cornell doctoral student Momodou Taal and Columbia international student Ranjani Srinivasan, whose visa was revoked.
Government’s Stance
The Trump administration defends its actions by invoking the Immigration and Nationality Act, which provides for the deportation of non-citizens who are “adversarial to U.S. foreign policy.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the law permits deportations on sweeping grounds.
The administration has also denied $400 million in funding to Columbia University, claiming that the university did not respond adequately to antisemitism on campus.
The university has acquiesced to several demands from the Trump administration, such as making protesters present identification in return for reconsidering the funding.
