Columbia's Yunseo Chung Faces Deportation After Protest Arrest

Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old Columbia University junior and permanent U.S. resident from South Korea, is facing deportation following her arrest at an anti-Israel protest at Barnard College on March 5. The Department of Homeland Security has characterized her conduct as 'concerning,' citing her arrest during a sit-in protest where she was charged with obstructing governmental administration. Chung has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to prevent her removal, arguing that the government's actions are intended to suppress her free speech rights. Despite not being in federal custody, she remains at risk of deportation and will have the opportunity to present her case before an immigration judge. The protest she participated in was sparked by the university's expulsion of students who had disrupted a class on modern Israel earlier in the year. Legal experts assert that ICE lacks the authority to revoke a permanent resident's status without due process.