A Columbia University student has taken legal action against the Trump administration, seeking to block her deportation after clashing with immigration authorities due to her outspoken pro-Palestinian stance.
Arrest at Protest Leads to Deportation Threat
Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old junior and lawful permanent resident, was arrested on March 5 while participating in a pro-Palestinian sit-in at Barnard College.
The demonstration escalated when over 50 students occupied a campus building, leading to an altercation that left a staff member injured and hospitalized.
Days after her arrest, Chung claims in her lawsuit that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents issued an arrest warrant and later showed up at her parents’ home looking for her.
On March 10, a federal official allegedly informed her legal team that her residency status was being revoked.
Federal Agents Search Student Housing
Three days later, according to Chung’s suit, ICE agents carried out search warrants at two Columbia-owned residences, including her dorm room, in search of travel and immigration documents.
Chung, who has lived in the U.S. since she was seven years old after emigrating from South Korea, has not disclosed her current location.
Her legal team has remained tight-lipped about her whereabouts.
Lawsuit Challenges Government Crackdown on Campus Activism
Chung is now asking the courts to intervene, aiming to halt what she calls an aggressive push by the Trump administration to deport noncitizen students involved in protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
The lawsuit argues that ICE’s actions are part of a broader effort to silence political dissent through immigration enforcement.
“ICE’s shocking actions against Ms. Chung form part of a larger pattern of attempted U.S. government repression of constitutionally protected protest activity and other forms of speech,” the suit states.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) pushed back, saying: “Yunseo Chung has engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College.
She is being sought for removal proceedings under immigration laws and will have the opportunity to present her case before an immigration judge.”
A Broader Crackdown on Student Protesters
Chung’s case is not an isolated incident. Her lawsuit references Mahmoud Khalil, a 29-year-old Palestinian activist at Columbia University, who was taken into custody by ICE earlier this month.
Khalil had played a key role in organizing protests on campus and acted as a negotiator between students and university officials.
His arrest, which took place at his university-owned apartment, has drawn widespread criticism.
DHS alleged that Khalil “led activities aligned with Hamas,” and the government justified the action as part of a coordinated effort with the Department of State.
However, Khalil has not been charged with any crime, and his supporters argue that his arrest represents a violation of free speech rights.
Notably, Khalil is married to a U.S. citizen, and his wife is eight months pregnant.
Legal and Public Backlash
The arrests of both Chung and Khalil have sparked fierce debates over First Amendment rights and the use of immigration enforcement as a tool for political suppression.
A lawyer for Khalil dismissed the government’s claims as “plainly thin” and emphasized that authorities would struggle to prove their case.
Naz Ahmad, one of Chung’s attorneys, expressed deep concerns over the precedent being set.
“Like many thousands of students nationwide, Yunseo raised her voice against what is happening in Gaza and in support of fellow students facing unfair discipline,” Ahmad told The New York Times.
“It can’t be the case that a straight-A student who has lived here most of her life can be whisked away and potentially deported, all because she dares to speak up.”
University Compliance Under Pressure
The controversy comes as Columbia University faces intense pressure from the Trump administration. The president recently threatened to withhold $400 million in federal funding unless the university implemented stricter policies on campus protests. In response, Columbia has begun enforcing several policy changes, though critics argue that these measures infringe on students’ rights.
As Chung’s legal battle unfolds, her case is expected to become a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over immigration, free speech, and government overreach.