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Original Date Announced
March 6, 2025Axios reports that the State Department, in conjunction with the DOJ and DHS, is launching the "Catch and Revoke" initiative to revoke the visas of foreign national students who appear to support Hamas or other designated terrorist groups. The initiative will utilize AI to review student visa holders' social media accounts for expressions of sympathy toward Hamas following the group’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Officials also plan to examine internal databases, such as the Student Exchange Visitor System, as well as news reports and lawsuits filed by Jewish students, to determine whether any visa holders were arrested in connection with antisemitic or allegedly pro-terrorist campus protests.
Trump 2.0 [ID #1593]
2025.03.06 State Dept. to use AI to revoke visas of foreign students who appear "pro-Hamas" - AxiosSubsequent Trump and Court Action(s)
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March 9, 2025
2025.03.09 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus - M.K. v. Joyce
Mahmoud Khalil filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the Southern District of New York, arguing that his detention by ICE was impermissible viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment and a violation of Khalil's due process rights under the Fifth Amendment. The petition demands his immediate release pending adjudication. M.K. v. Joyce, 2:25-cv-01963 (D.N.J.) (formerly S.D.N.Y. Case No. 1:25-cv-01935).
Khalil is a Palestinian lawful permanent resident (LPR) and a recent graduate of Columbia University who was arrested and detained by ICE for his participation in protests regarding Gaza. DHS is charging Khalil with being deportable under 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(4)(C), which applies to any noncitizen "whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States."
**Litigation entries are limited to initial complaints and major substantive rulings. For pleadings and additional information, use name and docket number to search Civil Rights Clearinghouse and CourtListener or visit Just Security Litigation Tracker**
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March 10, 2025
2025.03.10 Notice of Conference and Stay of Removal - M.K. v. Joyce
In response to Mahmoud Khalil's petition for writ of habeas corpus against ICE, Judge Jesse Furman ordered that "[t]o preserve the Court's jurisdiction pending a ruling on the petition, Petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise." M.K. v. Joyce, No. 1:25-cv-01935 (S.D.N.Y.).
**See litigation note above**
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March 14, 2025
2025.03.16 Reported: DHS Arrests Second Columbia Protester, Axes Another’s Visa In Crackdown - Tampa Free Press
Tampa Free Press reports that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials arrested a second individual linked to pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University and revoked another student’s visa. Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from the West Bank, was detained for overstaying her visa that expired in January 2022. Additionally, the Trump Administration revoked the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian doctoral student, on March 5 for "advocating violence and terrorism."
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March 15, 2025
2025.03.15 Complaint - Taal v. Trump
Momodou Taal and others filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of New York, arguing that Executive Orders 14161 and 14188 violate their First and Fifth Amendment rights by unconstitutionally silencing speech critical of the U.S. or Israeli governments under threat of criminal prosecution or deportation. The petition asks the Court to enjoin enforcement of the Executive Orders and to preemptively stop his deportation and that of others involved in Pro-Palestine activism. Taal v. Trump, No. 3:25-cv-00335 (N.D.N.Y.).
**See litigation note above**
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March 21, 2025
2025.03.23 Reported: ICE Tells a Cornell Student Activist to Turn Himself In - New York Times
New York Times reports that ICE has ordered Cornell Ph.D. student Momodou Taal to "surrender" for detention, following his involvement in pro-Palestinian campus protests. Taal, who’s from Gambia and the U.K., had already been told by the university to study remotely after helping shut down a career fair with weapons manufacturers last year. His lawyers state this is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to target pro-Palestinian students and that it violates his free speech rights. Taal has filed a lawsuit to stop the deportation and challenge Trump’s executive order tying activism to antisemitism and terrorism. Students have rallied around him, demanding that the government back off.
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March 24, 2025
2025.03.24 Complaint - Chung v. Trump
Yunseo Chung, an undergraduate student at Columbia University, filed a complaint and petition for writ of habeas corpus in response to the Trump administration's efforts to arrest and deport her due to her participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Chung is a lawful permanent resident who moved from South Korea to the United States when she was 7. According to her complaint, ICE has been searching for her since March 9, and has enlisted the help of federal prosecutors in its investigation. The Trump administration is arguing that her presence in the United States hinders the administration’s foreign policy agenda of stopping the spread of antisemitism, and has "revoked" her lawful permanent resident status.
Chung's lawsuit contains constitutional and statutory challenges to the government's enforcement policy , and asks the court to enjoin the government from taking enforcement action against her and from targeting any noncitizen for deportation based on constitutionally protected speech and pro-Palestinian advocacy. Chung v. Trump, No. 1:25-cv-02412 (S.D.N.Y.).
**See litigation note above**
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March 25, 2025
2025.03.25 TRO - Chung v. Trump
A federal district court ordered the Trump administration to halt its efforts to arrest and deport Chung. The court also ordered the government, should it seek to detain Chung on any basis other than § 1227(a)(4)(C), to provide “sufficient advance notice” to Chung and her attorneys. Chung v. Trump, No. 1:25-cv-02412 (S.D.N.Y.).
**See litigation note above**
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March 26, 2025
2025.03.26 Reported: Federal Government Detains International Student at Tufts - New York Times
Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University, was detained by ICE officials near the university campus after her student visa was revoked. A DHS spokesperson stated that Öztürk “engaged in activities in support of” Hamas. Öztürk co-authored an opinion essay published last March in the Tufts student newspaper condemning the university’s responds to demand from Pro-Palestine activists. She is apparently being held in a Louisiana detention center.
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March 27, 2025
2025.03.27 University of Alabama graduate student detained by ICE, school says - ABC News
Multiple news outlets have reported that Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian PhD student at the University of Alabama, was detained by ICE officials just outside the university campus after his student visa was allegedly revoked.
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March 27, 2025
2025.03.27 Order Denying TRO - Taal v. Trump
District Judge Elizabeth Coombe denied Momodou Taal's motion for a temporary restraining order enjoining EOs 14161 and 14188, as well as his removal proceedings based on a lack of subject matter jurisdiction, standing, and failure to demonstrate irreparable harm to justify a TRO. Taal v. Trump, 3:25-cv-00335-ECC-ML (N.D.N.Y.).
**See litigation note above**
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March 28, 2025
2025.03.28 Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Complaint - Ozturk v. Trump
Tufts PhD student Rümeysa Öztürk filed an amended habeas petition and complaint in the District Court for the District of Massachusetts after her student visa was revoked and she was arrested by ICE agents on March 25. Her complaint challenges her detention and arrest by ICE, arguing they are "based solely on her co-authorship of an op-ed" in the Tufts student newspaper that criticized the university's response to the Gaza war. Öztürk has not been charged with any crime, nor have any officials alleged that she is dangerous or a flight risk. Öztürk v. Trump, 1:25-cv-10695-DJC (D. Mass.).
**See litigation note above**
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March 28, 2025
2025.03.28 Reported: Rubio Says He Has Revoked 300 or More Visas in Trump’s Deportation Push - New York Times
The New York Times reports that, during a a press conference, Secretary of State Marco Rubio estimated that since taking office in January, he has signed more than 300 letters revoking the visas of students, visitors and others from the United States "because of their foreign policy views or criminal activities."
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March 29, 2025
2025.03.29 Reported: Hundreds of international students wake up to an email asking them to self deport for campus activism - The Times of India
The Times of India reports that DOS has sent student visa revocation notices via email to hundreds of international students with instructions on how to self deport. The "crackdown" on student visa holders is purportedly "based on social-media reviews being conducted by DOS" under the "Catch and Revoke" initiative. The email stated that these revocations are pursuant to Section 221(i) of the INA and urged students to depart the U.S. promptly to avoid fines, detention, deportation, and future visa ineligibility. The article contains text of the email from DOS, which threatens arrest and removal—including to third countries.
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April 1, 2025
2025.04.01 Opinion and Order Finding Jurisdiction - M.K. v. Joyce
Judge Michael Farbiarz issued an order and opinion finding that the New Jersey District Court has habeas jurisdiction over Mahmoud Khalil's case and soliciting the parties' views on the appealability of the order. Khalil v. Joyce, 25-cv-01963 (D.N.J.).
**Litigation entries are limited to initial complaints and major substantive rulings. For pleadings and additional information, use name and docket number to search Civil Rights Clearinghouse and CourtListener or visit Just Security Litigation Tracker**
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April 1, 2025
2025.04.01 Reported: Cornell University student activist whose visa was revoked announces departure from the U.S. - NBC News
Momodou Taal, the Cornell University PhD student whose student visa was reportedly revoked due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests and a lawsuit he and others filed against the Trump administration due to its actions against student protesters, voluntarily left the U.S. before the resolution of his suit.
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April 9, 2025
2025.04.10_State Department Memo, Khalil v. Joyce, 25-cv-01963 (D.N.J.)
DHS submitted into evidence in the Khalil case an undated memo written by Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating that he had determined that Mahmoud Khalil (and another LPR whose name was redacted) is deportable under INA Section 237(a)(4)(C) because his presence in the United States "would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences and would compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest." Secretary Rubio cited information by DHS/ICE/HSI purportedly about Khalil's role in "antisemitic protests and disruptive activities, which fosters a hostile environment for Jewish students in the United States." Kahlil's continued presence would "undermine U.S. policy to combat anti-Semitism around the world and in the United States, in addition to efforts to protect Jewish students from harassment and violence in the United States."
**See litigation note above**
View Document
Current Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/Actual In LitigationTrump Administration Action: Agency DirectiveSubject Matter: Non-Immigrant Visas: Student InteriorAssociated or Derivative Policies
Pre Trump-Era Policies
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January 30, 2025
The White House issued a Fact Sheet to accompany EO 14188. The Fact Sheet outlines, among other things, the administration’s promise to "Deport Hamas Sympathizers and Revoke Student Visas." It states: "To all resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: Come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you. I will also swiftly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism like never before."
2025.01.30 White House Fact Sheet: "President Donald J. Trump Takes Forceful and Unprecedented Steps to Combat Anti-Semitism"
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
- Prior Policy
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus - M.K. v. Joyce
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
Notice of Conference and Stay of Removal - M.K. v. Joyce
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
Complaint - M.T. v. Trump
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
2025.03.24 Complaint - Y.C. v. Trump
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
2025.03.25 TRO - Y.C. v. Trump
- Subsequent Action
- Subsequent Action
- Subsequent Action
- Subsequent Action
To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com
To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com
Commentary
2025.03.09 Prof. Evan Bernick argues that 8 USC § 1227(a)(4)(C) is unconstitutional - X
On X, Professor Evan Bernick argues 8 USC § 1227(a)(4)(C), the INA provision possibly invoked to pursue removal of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, "seems facially unconstitutional. Vagueness, procedural due process, maybe even nondelegation." Bernick notes that Massieu v. Reno, 915 F. Supp. 681 (D.N.J. 1996), rev'd on other grounds, 91 F.3d 416 (3d Cir. 1996), held the statute was unconstitutional.
Go to article2025.03.12 Just Security: Explainer on First Amendment and Due Process Issues in Deportation of Pro-Palestinian Student Activists
Immigration legal experts Ahilan Arulanantham and Adam Cox published an explainer on First Amendment and due process issues involved in the deportation of Pro-Palestinian student-activists.
Go to article2025.03.14 AILA - Policy Brief: Explaining the Foreign Policy Ground of Removability
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) explains INA § 237(a)(4)(C)(i), the foreign policy ground of removability, and the constitutional and statutory concerns with the government’s actions against Khalil.
Go to article2025.03.28 AILA - Practice Pointer: DOS Authority to Revoke Visas for Persons in the U.S.
AILA released a practice pointer explaining DOS' authority to revoke nonimmigrant visas for persons in the United States "at any time."
Go to article2025.04.01 Congress Wrote a Deportation Law to Be Used ‘Sparingly.’ Trump Has Other Ideas. - NYT
The New York Times reports that the 1952 law Secretary of State Rubio has been using to revoke more than 300 student visas was intended by Congress to be used "'sparingly' if the problem stems from foreigners' exercise of free speech."
Go to article2025.04.08 As Trump’s immigration crackdown continues, ethics questions are being raised over the use of masked federal agents - CNN
CNN covers the debate surrounding the use of masked federal agents, including during the student arrests. There is no federal policy dictating when officers can or should cover their faces during arrests, but they have historically worn them only when performing undercover work. DHS claims, however, that masks are needed to protect officers' identities. Critics warn that masks could become standard procedure.
Go to article2025.04.08 AILA Policy Brief: Immigration Enforcement Actions Against International Students
AILA explains how student visas differ from other nonimmigrant visa types, the legal pathways to revoking and terminating a student visa, and the due process protections that are available.
Go to article