Cornell student activist denied bid to immediately stop the government from trying to deport him

Audio By Carbonatix

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — A judge on Thursday declined to immediately block the U.S. government from taking steps to deport a Cornell University student whose visa was revoked over his participation in campus demonstrations.

U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Coombe also rejected Momodou Taal's request to halt the enforcement of two presidential executive orders that spurred a recent crackdown on international students who, like him, have been involved in pro-Palestinian activism.

The government says it revoked Taal’s student visa because of his alleged involvement in “disruptive protests,” as well as for disregarding university policies and creating a hostile environment for Jewish students. The doctoral student in Africana studies, who is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Gambia, was suspended last fall after a group of pro-Palestinian activists disrupted a campus career fair. He had been continuing his studies remotely.

Coombe wrote that Taal, 31, did not meet the high burden for the temporary restraining orders he was seeking. The judge added that Taal had not established that she had jurisdiction to halt his deportation proceedings, which play out in immigration courts.

Taal and two co-plaintiffs initially filed a lawsuit against the government March 15 seeking to block enforcement of the executive orders that he believed could lead to his deportation, arguing they violate free speech rights.

He was later told that his student visa had already been revoked before the suit was filed, but that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had trouble locating him. He was told to surrender himself to immigration authorities.

The Trump administration has recently attempted to remove several noncitizens from the country for participating in campus protests that the government deems antisemitic and sympathetic to the militant Palestinian group Hamas. Students say the government is targeting them for advocating for Palestinian rights.

A call seeking comment was made to Taal's lawyer.