A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump administration from deporting Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old legal permanent resident and student at Columbia University. This ruling comes amid heightened scrutiny on pro-Palestinian protests on campus, where Chung has been an active participant.

Chung, who has lived in the U.S. since she was seven and moved from South Korea, filed a lawsuit earlier this week after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attempted to detain her for her involvement in demonstrations advocating for Palestinian rights. The judge, Naomi Reice Buchwald, stated during a court hearing that “nothing in the record” indicated that Chung posed any danger to the community or represented a risk to U.S. foreign policy interests.

The Trump administration's legal team had sought Chung’s deportation under a provision within the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows for the removal of non-citizens deemed adversarial to US national interests. This precedent has previously been invoked against Mahmoud Khalil, another Columbia student who remains detained.

Chung's attorney, Ramzi Kassem, celebrated the ruling, stating, “After the constant dread in the back of my mind over the past few weeks, this decision feels like a million pounds off of my chest.” He emphasized that the government's actions represented an “unjustifiable assault” on her First Amendment rights, arguing that immigration enforcement should not target individuals expressing politically disfavored speech.

This ruling is part of a broader legal struggle faced by other students involved in similar protests, including Momodou Taal from Cornell University, who is also contesting deportation efforts stemming from his activist involvement.

Chung's case echoes national concerns about the administration's crackdown on political dissent, particularly among students advocating for human rights. Critics argue this represents an alarming trend of political repression masked as immigration enforcement.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other rights organizations have condemned these actions, insisting the government cannot suppress constitutional rights through immigration policy. As the legal battle continues, Chung and her supporters remain hopeful for a positive outcome that protects the rights of all students participating in free speech activities.