Columbia junior Yunseo Chung claims ICE is using deportation as a tool to silence student activists
Columbia University student Yunseo Chung has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, alleging that immigration officials are targeting her for deportation due to her participation in pro-Palestinian protests.
Chung, a 21-year-old lawful permanent resident originally from South Korea, was arrested on March 5 during a sit-in at Barnard College. The protest was part of a wider demonstration against Columbia’s disciplinary actions on student activists. Days after her arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued an administrative warrant for her detention and attempted to take her into custody at her parents’ home.
On March 10, a federal law enforcement official informed her lawyer that Chung’s residency was being revoked. Three days later, authorities executed search warrants at two Columbia-owned residences, including her dorm room, seizing travel and immigration-related documents.
Having lived in the U.S. since the age of seven, Chung is now seeking a court order to prevent her deportation. Her lawsuit argues that high-ranking government officials are using immigration enforcement as a tool to silence student protesters who have spoken out against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Chung’s legal action highlights a broader crackdown on student activism, particularly targeting noncitizens. The lawsuit references other students facing similar threats, including Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil and Cornell University Ph.D. candidate Momodou Taal, both of whom have had their visas revoked following campus demonstrations.
A senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson defended the government’s actions, stating that Chung was arrested during what they described as a “pro-Hamas protest” at Barnard College. DHS confirmed that she would have an opportunity to present her case before an immigration judge.
The Trump administration has relied on a rarely invoked legal statute that allows the Secretary of State to revoke visas for individuals deemed a “threat” to U.S. foreign policy interests. Critics argue this tactic is being used selectively to suppress political dissent, particularly against pro-Palestinian voices.
Among the most high-profile cases is that of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student and activist. Khalil was detained and told that his green card was being revoked due to his role in organising campus protests. The administration has accused him of antisemitic support for Hamas and failing to disclose previous employment with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees and the British embassy for Syria. His attorney has dismissed the allegations as weak and legally insignificant.
As Chung’s case unfolds, it raises concerns about the intersection of immigration policy and free speech rights. Legal experts warn that using deportation as a means to suppress campus activism could set a dangerous precedent for student protest rights in the United States.
