Columbia University student protester sues Trump to stop deportation

A Columbia University student is suing the Trump administration.

Yunseo Chung, 21, moved to the US from South Korea at age seven. She is a legal permanent resident. The lawsuit claims immigration officials searched multiple Columbia facilities, including her dormitory.

Chung's lawsuit aims to block her detention and deportation. It cites First Amendment rights and other constitutional protections. This follows the recent detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist.

Khalil helped negotiate between university officials and student protesters. Chung's lawyers say she participated in protests against Israel's actions in Gaza. However, she did not speak to the press or take on a high-profile role like Khalil.

The Department of Homeland Security claims Chung engaged in "concerning conduct." This includes her arrest during a demonstration at Barnard College over student expulsions linked to pro-Palestinian protests.

The BBC has reached out for comment from the agency. The lawsuit states that efforts to arrest Chung began days after a sit-in protest on March 5, 2025. On March 8, ICE signed an arrest warrant for her.

Soon after, agents searched for her at her parents' home. The suit describes a pattern of targeting individuals involved in Palestinian rights protests. It argues this is retaliation for their protected political speech.

Chung is not alone; several students face similar threats from Trump officials. Other students named in the lawsuit include Cornell doctoral student Momodou Taal and Columbia international student Ranjani Srinivasan.

Srinivasan's visa was revoked amid these actions. The arrest of Khalil sparked nationwide protests against government repression of activism. His wife, who is pregnant and a US citizen, has also spoken out.

Khalil’s lawyers accuse the government of repressing student activism and political speech. Trump officials cite the Immigration and Nationality Act as justification for deportations.

This law allows deportation of non-citizens seen as adversarial to US interests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that this could apply for "virtually any reason."

Additionally, the administration revoked $400 million in funding from Columbia University. This was due to allegations that the university failed to combat antisemitism on campus.

Columbia has agreed to several demands from Trump officials regarding funding reinstatement. These include requiring protesters to provide identification during demonstrations.