Cornell Activist Can’t Halt Deportation Effort

In Syracuse, New York, a judge decided on Thursday not to immediately halt the U.S. government’s actions to deport a Cornell University student whose visa was canceled due to his involvement in protests on campus.
Judge Elizabeth Coombe also dismissed requests from Momodou Taal to suspend two presidential executive orders, which have intensified scrutiny on international students partaking in pro-Palestinian activism.
The authorities claimed they rescinded Taal’s student visa because of his alleged participation in “disruptive protests” and for violating university regulations, leading to an inhospitable setting for Jewish students. Taal, who is pursuing a doctorate in Africana studies and holds British and Gambian citizenship, faced suspension after a group of activists advocating for Palestine disrupted a campus career event last autumn. Despite this, he continued his academic work remotely.
Judge Coombe stated that Taal, aged 31, failed to meet the stringent criteria required to grant the temporary restraining orders he sought. Furthermore, she noted that Taal had not demonstrated the court’s authority to intervene in his deportation process, which unfolds within immigration courts.
On March 15, Taal, along with two other plaintiffs, initiated a lawsuit aiming to prevent the enforced executive orders that could potentially lead to his deportation. They argue these actions infringe upon free speech rights.
However, Taal was informed that his student visa had already been revoked before the lawsuit was filed, and immigration officials had difficulty locating him. He was instructed to surrender to the immigration authorities.
The Trump administration has been actively pursuing the removal of several international students from the U.S. for their involvement in campus protests deemed antisemitic and supportive of Hamas, a Palestinian militant group. Students claim the government is targeting them for their advocacy of Palestinian rights.
Efforts to reach Taal’s attorney for comment were made.