US officials send notice to pro-Palestinian Cornell student
What's the story
US immigration authorities have sent a "notice to appear" to Momodou Taal, Africana Studies doctoral candidate at Cornell University.
The notice was emailed on Friday and is one of the first steps in the deportation process.
Taal, a UK-Gambia dual citizen, has participated in pro-Palestinian protests against Israel's military campaign in Gaza following the October 2023 Hamas attack.
Legal response
Taal's attorneys view ICE notice as free speech violation
Taal's lawyers have termed the immigration notice a violation of free speech.
Taal had earlier sued to stop the deportation of protesters, alleging he was doxxed.
The US government email said, "ICE invites Mr. Taal and his counsel to appear in-person at the (Homeland Security Investigations Office) in Syracuse at a mutually agreeable time for personal service of the (Notice to Appear) and for Mr. Taal to surrender to ICE custody."
Deportation attempts
Trump's administration has targeted pro-Palestinian voices
Taal's participation in a protest that interrupted a weapons manufacturers' career fair resulted in his university mandating him to study online.
The Trump administration had also tried deporting other foreigners during its crackdown on pro-Palestinian voices.
Columbia University protester Mahmoud Khalil was arrested this month and is challenging his detention legally.
Detention details
Indian scholar detained in US for support to Palestine
Badar Khan Suri, an Indian postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, was also detained this week.
His lawyer has denied any allegations of his client supporting Hamas.
A federal judge has now prohibited Suri's deportation.
The Trump administration is reportedly cracking down on student activists accused of opposing US foreign policy. Suri is one of the latest cases.