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Judge blocks deportations
A federal judge in California ruled that President Donald Trump’s administration violated the constitutional rights of international students when it sought to punish them for criticising Israel’s war on Gaza by revoking visas and detaining noncitizens for pro-Palestinian advocacy.
“laws that President Donald Trump's administration used to cancel visas and initiate deportation proceedings”
In San Jose, Judge Noël Wise issued the ruling Friday, saying, "Freedom of speech is illusory if we are only 'free' to express complementary views about the government and its leaders," as she struck down portions of the deportation provisions used against students.
Reuters reported that Wise chastised the U.S. State Department and U.S. Department of Homeland Security for how they deployed federal immigration law to target noncitizens for deportation over views they wanted to suppress.
The ruling centered on actions that began in March 2025, including the arrest of Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, who is fighting deportation in a separate case.
Reuters said the lawsuit was filed in August 2025 by The Stanford Daily, which alleged its writers with student visas refrained from covering pro-Palestinian student protests and topics related to the Middle East conflict because of the administration’s policies.
Voices hail the ruling
The decision prompted immediate responses from students and advocates, including Mahmoud Khalil, who praised the ruling on Saturday in a post on social media saying, "No one should fear speaking up for Palestine," on X.
The Associated Press quoted George Porteous, editor-in-chief of The Stanford Daily, saying, "The reporters in our newsroom shouldn't have to fear that writing a story will result in their deportation. Today’s victory means they won’t have to."
Wise also warned that the administration’s approach could expand beyond pro-Palestinian speech, writing in San Jose, "Tomorrow, or perhaps even today, targets may include anyone in the United States who exercises their freedom of speech to simply express opinions the government does not like," according to the Associated Press.
Conor Fitzpatrick, a lawyer at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Free Expression, hailed the ruling as a win for First Amendment rights, and the Associated Press said the Justice Department did not respond Saturday to a message seeking comment.
The Associated Press further reported that Wise said the government’s tactics had affected college campuses, describing a chilling message that noncitizen students heard and heeded, leaving "the silence is deafening," in her decision.
What’s at stake next
The ruling directly challenges how the Trump administration used the Immigration and Nationality Act, including a provision allowing the secretary of state to "exclude" foreign nationals if their presence could cause "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States," as described by Al Jazeera.
“the secretary of state can “exclude” foreign nationals from the country if their presence could cause “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences"”
Reuters said Wise agreed with The Stanford Daily that when a noncitizen’s speech is the reason behind a visa revocation and deportation determination, "the government is singling out that speech for disfavored treatment based on its viewpoint or content."
The Associated Press reported that Wise cited retaliation in March 2025 by U.S. immigration authorities against people who engaged in speech supporting the Palestinians and against Israel’s actions, which a growing number of experts, including those commissioned by a U.N. body, have said amount to genocide.
The Associated Press also reported that Wise cited retaliation against people who were critical of Charlie Kirk after the Turning Point USA co-founder was assassinated last September, and she warned that the downward spiral would be antithetical to the Constitution.
In the Associated Press account, Wise said noncitizens at The Stanford Daily had quit, withheld articles, refused assignments, requested articles be taken down, and asked for anonymity due to fear of adverse immigration consequences, while the judge said noncitizens have the same First Amendment rights as citizens.