Columbia Students Face Deportation Over Pro-Palestinian Activism

Two Columbia University students, Mahmoud Khalil and Yunseo Chung, are facing deportation amid their involvement in pro-Palestinian activism, raising concerns about free speech and government repression on college campuses. Khalil, a 30-year-old graduate student, is accused of failing to disclose his affiliations and employment history when applying for permanent residency, leading to his arrest by ICE. In contrast, Chung, a 21-year-old who has lived in the U.S. since age seven, argues her deportation is a targeted attack on her activism, as officials claim her presence undermines U.S. foreign policy related to antisemitism. Both students have engaged in protests against Israel and their cases highlight a wider trend of international students facing legal repercussions for activism. Chung has filed a lawsuit against President Trump and other officials, asserting that immigration enforcement is being used to suppress dissent. Their situations reflect a troubling intersection of immigration policy and political expression within the current administration's stance on pro-Palestinian activism.