Cornell Students Sue Trump Over Deportation Threats Amid Pro-Palestine Protests

Momodou Taal, a 31-year-old doctoral student at Cornell University, has filed a lawsuit against President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security challenging two executive orders aimed at deporting international students who express pro-Palestinian views. The lawsuit, initiated alongside other plaintiffs including a professor and another graduate student, seeks to block enforcement of these orders, which they argue violate their First and Fifth Amendment rights. Taal's activism has made him a prominent figure on campus, and he asserts that the executive orders create a climate of fear for students and faculty advocating for Palestinian rights. The suit follows concerns raised by the recent detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student, which has sparked protests against the administration's policies. Taal expressed that the legal action is a necessary step to protect constitutional freedoms and prevent political persecution. A hearing regarding the request for a nationwide temporary restraining order is expected soon in federal court.