Federal Judge Rules Trump Administration Unconstitutionally Targeted Noncitizens Over Gaza War Protests

A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully targeted non-citizens for deportation as a response to their pro-Palestinian speech and protests related to the Gaza war, violating the First Amendment. Judge William Young of Boston found that the Departments of State and Homeland Security coordinated a policy aimed at silencing dissent by revoking visas and deporting foreign students and faculty, specifically to chill political expression on U.S. campuses. The ruling affirmed that non-citizens lawfully present in the U.S. possess the same free speech rights as citizens, rejecting the administration's claim that these actions were merely enforcement of immigration laws. The decision arose from a trial involving multiple university associations who presented evidence of a deliberate and targeted campaign against activists sympathetic to Palestinians. The judge described the policy as a significant repression of lawful political speech, likening it to McCarthy-era tactics, and highlighted ongoing repercussions within academic communities. Remedies to prevent future similar actions are to be determined in subsequent proceedings.