A US judge has blocked the government from detaining and deporting Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old South Korean student at Columbia University.
This comes amid President Donald Trump’s crackdown on foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests.
- PANDEF Praises Tinubu for Approving South-South Development Commission
- Dangote’s New Polypropylene Production to Boost Textile Industry, Save Nigeria $267 Million
Trump has accused Columbia University of being a key center for student protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.
His administration cut $400 million in federal funding for the school and ordered immigration officials to deport foreign students participating in the demonstrations.
Authorities attempted to detain Chung under the same policy that led to the arrest of another student, Mahmoud Khalil, who is currently in detention awaiting deportation.
Chung’s lawyers argued that using immigration enforcement to punish students for their political views is unconstitutional.
On Tuesday, Judge Naomi Buchwald issued an emergency ruling preventing the government from arresting Chung while the case is reviewed.
Meanwhile, several university professors and academic organizations have sued the Trump administration, challenging its policy of targeting foreign students and cutting Columbia’s funding.
The protests at Columbia have divided opinions across the country.
Supporters say students are standing up for Palestinian rights, while the Trump administration argues that the demonstrations are anti-Semitic and must be stopped.