A Columbia University student, Yunseo Chung, a Korean American legal permanent U.S. resident, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday to halt her deportation. Chung, 21, has resided in the U.S. since the age of seven, but her permanent resident status was recently revoked, as revealed in a court filing at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The Trump administration cited Chung’s presence in the U.S. as impeding its foreign policy objectives. Although Chung has not been detained, immigration officials have visited her residences multiple times in search of her.
The lawsuit filed on Monday alleges that actions taken against Chung are part of a broader effort by the U.S. government to suppress constitutionally protected protest activities and free speech. Specifically, the lawsuit claims that the government targets university students who voice support for Palestinians and criticize the Israeli government’s military actions in Gaza.
A spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused Chung of engaging in questionable behavior, citing an incident where she was arrested during a protest at Barnard College labeled as “pro-Hamas” by DHS. While the spokesperson did not provide details about the conduct in question, they stated that Chung is being sought for removal proceedings under immigration laws and will have an opportunity to present her case before an immigration judge.
President Trump has vowed to deport foreign individuals involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, accusing them of backing the militant group Hamas, obstructing U.S. foreign policy goals, and displaying antisemitic tendencies. Protesters, including some Jewish organizations, argue that the administration wrongly equates their criticism of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian rights with antisemitism and support for Hamas. Human rights advocates have criticized the government’s actions.
