Columbia student sues Trump administration over attempt to deport her
What's the story
Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old junior at Columbia University, has filed a lawsuit against the Donald Trump-led administration.
The suit was filed after the government allegedly tried to deport her despite being a lawful permanent resident.
Her lawyers called the move an "unprecedented and unjustifiable assault" on her rights and a "shocking overreach" of authority.
Background
Chung's journey from South Korea to US
Chung, who hails from South Korea, has lived in the US since she was seven.
She received her permanent resident status in 2021.
She has made the Dean's List every semester since enrolling at Columbia University and has a 3.99 GPA, according to the lawsuit.
She participated in protests on campus against Israel's war in Gaza but didn't make "public statements to the press or otherwise assumed a high-profile role," the lawsuit says.
Deportation attempt
ICE's efforts to deport Chung
She was arrested for protesting against the university's "excessive punishments" meted out to student activists on March 5.
Merely three days after Chung's arrest, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly issued an administrative arrest warrant for her deportation.
Immigration officials subsequently searched her parents' house and two Columbia locations, including Chung's university dormitory.
An official even reportedly told her lawyer her permanent resident status was being "revoked," a power that lies solely with immigration judges.
Legal action
Chung's lawsuit names key Trump administration officials
Chung's lawsuit, filed Monday, names Trump and Marco Rubio, who reportedly asked for Chung's legal status to be revoked.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and others are also named in the suit.
Both Trump and Rubio have supported revoking international students' visas for participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Repression claim
Chung's lawsuit highlights pattern
Chung's lawsuit argues that "ICE's shocking actions against Chung form part of a larger pattern of attempted US government repression of constitutionally protected protest activity and other forms of speech."
The suit further accuses the government of seeking to "retaliate against and punish noncitizens" who express solidarity with Palestinians, or criticize the Israeli government's military campaign in Gaza.
Enforcement actions
Recent cases of immigration enforcement against activists
The lawsuit follows other cases of immigration crackdowns on activists.
Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil was detained by ICE officials earlier this month, who said they were following a State Department directive to cancel his green card. He is now being held in Louisiana.
Indian Columbia graduate student Ranjani Srinivasan fled to Canada after the DHS revoked her student visa for allegedly "supporting Hamas."