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Apr 11, 2026 The Trump administration fired immigration judges who had blocked student deportations Tier 1 · Primary Civil Rights and Dissent
The firings threatened adjudicative independence in immigration cases and increased pressure on decisions affecting noncitizens' rights and campus-linked dissent.
Supporting reports
- Immigration Judges Fired for Blocking Deportations — The Trump administration abruptly fired two immigration judges who had blocked the deportations of students Rümeysa Öztürk and Mohsen Mahdawi.
- Immigration judges fired after blocking deportation of pro-Palestinian students — The Department of Justice has terminated six immigration judges, including Roopal Patel and Nina Froes, who had ruled against the Trump administration in deportation cases involving pro-Palestinian students Rümeysa
Feb 26, 2026 Columbia student Elmina Aghayeva was detained by ICE and later released after political intervention Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The detention and release highlighted the fragility of student visa rights and the use of immigration power against campus-linked individuals.
Supporting reports
- Columbia student released after detention by ICE — Columbia University student Elmina Aghayeva was released after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
- DHS Agents Arrest Columbia Student — On February 26, 2026, DHS agents arrested Columbia University student Ellie Aghayeva after falsely claiming to be police searching for a missing child.
Jan 15, 2026 A federal appeals court allowed the Trump administration to continue seeking Mahmoud Khalil’s deportation Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The ruling left an activist vulnerable to detention and removal, linking immigration power to speech and political viewpoint.
Supporting reports
- US appeals court reverses decision that freed Mahmoud Khalil from ICE detention — A federal appeals court reversed a lower court's decision that had ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former Columbia University graduate student, from ICE detention.
Nov 21, 2025 The Department of Justice sued California over in-state tuition and aid for undocumented students Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The lawsuit challenged state protections for undocumented students and put educational access at the center of a federal-state rights conflict.
Supporting reports
- Trump’s DoJ sues California over college tuition benefits for undocumented students — The Trump administration's Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against California, challenging the state's policy that allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public universities.
Oct 26, 2025 ICE detained British journalist Sami Hamdi after revoking his visa. Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The detention linked immigration enforcement to political speech and raised due-process and free-expression concerns.
Supporting reports
- ICE detains British journalist Sami Hamdi after criticism of Israel — On October 26, 2025, British journalist Sami Hamdi was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at San Francisco International Airport.
- British Journalist Detained by ICE — British Muslim journalist Sami Hamdi was detained by ICE agents at San Francisco International Airport, reportedly at the urging of pro-Israel, anti-Muslim extremists Laura Loomer and Amy Mekelburg.
- Detention of British Commentator Sami Hamdi by ICE — Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator, was detained by U.S.
Jun 10, 2025 The Trump administration used immigration enforcement against pro-Palestine speech and social media activity Tier 1 · Primary Civil Rights and Dissent
Targeting immigrants for political expression threatened free speech by tying dissent to detention, visa loss, and surveillance.
Supporting reports
- ICE arrests immigrants for pro-Palestine speech — The Trump administration has targeted immigrants for their pro-Palestine speech, resulting in arrests by ICE.
- USCIS to surveil immigrants' social media for "antisemitic activity" — USCIS announced it would begin monitoring immigrants' social media for "antisemitic activity," potentially affecting visa applications.
- State Department revokes visas of students involved in pro-Palestine protests — The State Department has revoked the visas of at least 800 international students, many of whom participated in pro-Palestine protests.
May 14, 2025 Federal judges ordered the release of Badar Khan Suri and other detained student activists or considered related release requests Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The cases tested whether immigration detention could be used against noncitizens for political speech and association.
Supporting reports
- Federal judge in New Jersey to rule on Mahmoud Khalil's release — A federal judge in New Jersey is expected to rule soon on the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian permanent resident and Columbia University student, who remains in detention.
- Federal judge orders release of Badar Khan Suri from custody — On May 14, 2025, a federal judge in Virginia ordered the release of Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University postdoctoral fellow, from immigration custody.
- Federal judge orders release of Indian academic from ICE detention — On May 14, 2025, a federal judge in Virginia ordered the immediate release of Badar Khan Suri, an Indian academic detained by ICE.
Apr 14, 2025 ICE detained Georgetown scholar Badar Khan Suri over alleged ties and speech related to Palestine Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The detention suggested immigration enforcement was being used against academic speech and association without disclosed evidence.
Supporting reports
- Detention of Georgetown Scholar by ICE — Dr.
Apr 14, 2025 ICE detained Mohsen Mahdawi during his naturalization interview in Vermont Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The arrest during a citizenship process raised concerns about retaliatory enforcement against political activism and due process.
Supporting reports
- Mohsen Mahdawi Detained by ICE During Naturalization Interview — Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian green-card holder and Columbia University student, was detained by ICE in Vermont during his naturalization interview.
Apr 12, 2025 An immigration judge in Louisiana ruled that Mahmoud Khalil could be deported based on a State Department memo about his views and associations Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The ruling raised free speech and due process concerns by treating political views as grounds for removal.
Supporting reports
- US judge rules Mahmoud Khalil can be deported for his views — An immigration judge in Louisiana ruled that Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and Palestinian organizer, is eligible for deportation from the United States.
Apr 8, 2025 The Trump administration expanded its crackdown on international students through criminal-record checks and status reviews Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The policy widened the risk of visa loss for students without convictions and threatened academic participation by noncitizens.
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Expands Crackdown on International Students — The Trump administration expanded its crackdown on international students by targeting those appearing in "criminal records checks," even if they have never been charged or convicted.
Apr 5, 2025 Federal immigration authorities arrested or targeted student protesters and activists for deportation, including Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk Tier 1 · Primary Civil Rights and Dissent
The actions used immigration enforcement against political expression and chilled protest, academic freedom, and noncitizen speech rights.
Supporting reports
- Federal immigration agents arrest students for protest involvement — Federal immigration agents have arrested and sought to deport graduate students involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, claiming violations of immigration rules.
- Trump administration seeks to deport Mahmoud Khalil — The Trump administration is attempting to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student activist and green-card holder, under a federal immigration law provision that allows deportation of non-citizens deemed
- Arrest of Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil by ICE — Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University and a green card holder, was arrested by ICE and placed in deportation proceedings due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests.
Mar 27, 2025 ICE detained foreign scholars and asylum seekers including Alireza Doroudi, Kseniia Petrova, and Sergei Tier 1 · Primary Civil Rights and Dissent
The detentions showed immigration enforcement reaching students, scientists, and asylum seekers in ways that threatened speech, study, and refuge.
Supporting reports
- ICE Detains Russian Asylum Seeker Sergei During Routine Check-in — On March 27, 2025, Sergei, a Russian asylum seeker who fled to the US after protesting the Ukraine war, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a routine check-in at their San Francisco office.
- ICE Detains University of Alabama Doctoral Student — On Thursday, U.S.
- Russian Scientist Detained by ICE at Boston Airport — Kseniia Petrova, a Russian scientist working at Harvard Medical School, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Boston Logan International Airport upon her return from France.
Mar 25, 2025 ICE officers arrested Rumeysa Ozturk and moved her through detention despite court scrutiny Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The detention of a student linked immigration enforcement to protest activity and raised due process concerns.
Supporting reports
- Rumeysa Ozturk Arrested by Immigration Officers — Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University, was arrested by plainclothes immigration officers while on her way to break her Ramadan fast.
- Federal court order violated in transfer of detained student — The Trump administration appeared to violate a federal court order by transferring Rumeysa Ozturk, a doctoral student detained for her activism, to a Louisiana immigration center.
- ICE Detains Tufts Graduate Student Rumeysa Ozturk — On Tuesday, federal immigration agents detained Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national and Tufts University doctoral student, in Massachusetts.
Mar 17, 2025 Immigration officials detained or targeted additional students, researchers, and advocates tied to pro-Palestinian speech Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The pattern suggested immigration powers were being used to police political expression and create fear in academic communities.
Supporting reports
- Immigration Agents Detain Georgetown Researcher — Masked immigration agents detained Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University researcher, after revoking his student visa.
- Arrest of Leqaa Kordia by Immigration Agents — On March 13, 2025, Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian student from the West Bank, was arrested by immigration agents in Newark after her student visa was deemed expired.
- Revocation of Student Visa and Self-Deportation of Ranjani Srinivasan — On March 11, 2025, Ranjani Srinivasan, a Columbia PhD student from India, self-deported after her student visa was revoked by the Department of Homeland Security.
Mar 15, 2025 The Trump administration detained Mahmoud Khalil and pursued his deportation over alleged ties to Hamas without criminal charges Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The detention suggested immigration enforcement could be used against campus protest activity and protected speech.
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Detains Columbia Graduate Mahmoud Khalil — Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and recent Columbia University graduate, was detained by immigration officers in New York.
- Arrest of Mahmoud Khalil by Immigration Officials — On March 8, 2025, Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University, was arrested by federal immigration officers in a Columbia-owned building.
- Arrest of Mahmoud Khalil Under Obscure Provision — Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student who led pro-Palestinian protests, has been arrested under a provision allowing the deportation of foreign nationals deemed to have adverse foreign policy
Mar 8, 2025 ICE and the State Department detained Mahmoud Khalil and sought to revoke his status over his protest activity Tier 1 · Primary Civil Rights and Dissent
The detention used immigration power against a lawful resident tied to political speech, raising due process and free expression concerns.
Supporting reports
- ICE Detains Palestinian Green Card Holder Mahmoud Khalil — Immigration officers detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder and recent Columbia University graduate, in New York and transferred him to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana.
- ICE arrests Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil — Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist and former student at Columbia University, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his university-owned apartment in New York.
- Arrest and Detention of Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil — Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and recent Columbia University graduate, was arrested by U.S.