US Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Effort to Deport Pro-Palestinian Students

A US federal judge has ruled that the administration of President Donald Trump violated the constitutional rights of international students by attempting to punish them for expressing criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza.

District Judge Noel Wise issued the ruling in California on Friday, strongly criticising the US Department of State and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for seeking to deport noncitizens over constitutionally protected speech.

Wise said freedom of speech in the United States belongs to everyone and warned that government retaliation could force both citizens and noncitizens to censor themselves.

The case focused on the Trump administration’s decision to revoke visas and detain international students who participated in pro-Palestinian advocacy.

The campaign gained widespread attention following the detention of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil in March 2025. Khalil, a Palestinian activist and US permanent resident, had played a prominent role in negotiations during student protests at Columbia University.

Khalil welcomed the latest ruling, saying that people should not be afraid to speak out in support of Palestine.

The lawsuit was filed against Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials. The Stanford Daily, an independent student newspaper, later joined the case after some of its noncitizen writers said they avoided covering pro-Palestinian demonstrations because they feared losing their immigration status.

The Trump administration has defended its actions by citing the Immigration and Nationality Act, which gives the secretary of state authority to exclude foreign nationals whose presence could potentially create serious adverse foreign-policy consequences for the United States.

However, critics argued that the law could not override the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech.

In her 90-page ruling, Wise accused Rubio of applying the visa-revocation policy without clear standards. She said the evidence showed a pattern of government action against noncitizens who criticised the administration or supported causes and individuals it opposed.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which filed the lawsuit, welcomed the decision, describing it as an important victory for First Amendment protections.

The Trump administration has faced similar legal setbacks over its efforts to deport pro-Palestinian students and academics. In September 2025, another federal judge ruled that US officials had violated the First Amendment when they attempted to detain and deport noncitizen students and academics because of their pro-Palestinian advocacy.

The US State Department and DHS had not immediately commented on the latest ruling.