By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Korean American Columbia University student, who is a legal permanent U.S. resident and has participated in pro-Palestinian protests, sued the administration of President Donald Trump on Monday to prevent her deportation, a court filing showed.
Yunseo Chung, 21, has lived in the U.S. since she was seven, but her legal team was informed two weeks ago that her lawful permanent resident status was being revoked, according to the court filing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The Trump administration says her U.S. presence hinders its foreign policy agenda, according to the lawsuit.
Chung has not yet been arrested. Immigration agents have made multiple visits to her residences looking for her.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
Trump has pledged to deport foreign pro-Palestinian protesters and accused them of supporting Hamas, posing hurdles for U.S. foreign policy and being antisemitic.
Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the administration wrongly conflate their criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian rights with antisemitism and support for Hamas. Human rights advocates have condemned the government’s moves.
Columbia protester Mahmoud Khalil, who was arrested this month and is legally challenging his detention, is also a lawful permanent resident. Trump, without evidence, accused Khalil of supporting Hamas, which Khalil denies.
KEY QUOTES
Actions against Chung “form part of a larger pattern of attempted U.S. government repression of constitutionally protected protest activity and other forms of speech,” Monday’s lawsuit said.
“The government’s repression has focused specifically on university students who speak out in solidarity with Palestinians and who are critical of the Israeli government’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.”
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency had no immediate comment.
OTHER CASES
Badar Khan Suri, an Indian studying at Georgetown University, was detained last week. A federal judge barred Suri’s deportation.
U.S. officials on Friday asked Cornell University student Momodou Taal to turn himself in, Taal’s attorneys said, adding his visa was being revoked.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Mary Milliken and Nia Williams)
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