A Cornell University PhD student who sued the Trump administration over policies targeting pro-Palestinian advocacy is now facing possible detention.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reportedly moved against Momodou Taal, a 31-year-old doctoral candidate, shortly after a judge scheduled a hearing for his case.
Taal, one of three plaintiffs challenging executive orders restricting non-citizen students and staff involved in pro-Palestinian activism, shared on social media that unidentified law enforcement officers attempted to detain him at his home. He claims this is an effort to silence him before his day in court.
His legal team acted swiftly, filing an emergency motion to block deportation proceedings. However, just hours later, the Department of Justice instructed Taal to report to a Homeland Security office in Syracuse, New York, where he was to be served a formal notice initiating deportation proceedings.
Taal has been vocal in his criticism of the administration’s crackdown on foreign students engaged in political activism, calling it an attack on free speech and due process. His attorneys describe the government’s actions as highly unusual, suggesting it is an attempt to undermine his legal challenge.
The case has sparked debate over immigration enforcement and civil liberties, raising concerns about whether political dissent is being met with retaliation. As legal proceedings unfold, the outcome could have major implications for international students and academic freedom in the United States.