Pro-Palestinian student and permanent US resident sues to halt deportation

WASHINGTON - A Korean-American Columbia University student, who is a legal permanent US resident and has participated in pro-Palestinian protests, sued the administration of President Donald Trump on March 24 to prevent her deportation, a court filing showed.

Ms Chung Yun-seo, 21, has lived in the US since she was seven, but her legal team was informed two weeks ago that her lawful permanent resident status was being revoked, according to a court filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The Trump administration says her US presence hinders its foreign policy agenda, according to the lawsuit.

Ms Chung has not yet been arrested. Immigration agents have made multiple visits to her residences looking for her.

Mr Trump has pledged to deport foreign pro-Palestinian protesters and accused them of supporting Hamas, posing hurdles for US foreign policy and being anti-Semitic.

Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the administration wrongly conflates their criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian rights with anti-Semitism and support for Hamas. Human rights advocates have condemned the government’s moves.

Columbia protester Mahmoud Khalil

, who was arrested in March and is legally challenging his detention, is also a lawful permanent resident. Mr Trump, without evidence, accused Mr Khalil of supporting Hamas, which Mr Khalil denies.

The March 24 lawsuit said actions against Ms Chung “form part of a larger pattern of attempted US government repression of constitutionally protected protest activity and other forms of speech”.

“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 US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency had no immediate comment.

Last week, Mr Badar Khan Suri, an Indian studying at Georgetown University, was detained. A federal judge barred Mr Suri’s deportation.

US officials on March 21 asked

Cornell University student Momodou Taal

to turn himself in, Mr Taal’s attorneys said, adding his visa was being revoked. REUTERS