Timesdo, New York – Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old student at Columbia University, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after alleging that federal agents searched her university dorm this month, seemingly in connection with her participation in pro-Palestinian protests. A federal judge in New York issued a temporary restraining order on Tuesday, blocking Chung’s detention until a hearing is held in May. The measure gives the young woman, a legal permanent resident since the age of 7, some relief in what her defense calls an «intimidation campaign» by authorities.
Chung, who moved to the United States from South Korea, has been an active participant in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including a sit-in at Barnard College on March 5. According to her lawsuit, since that event, federal agents have searched her dorm, visited her parents’ house, and revoked her immigration status. The young woman claims that the Trump administration is attempting to use immigration laws as a tool to suppress free speech, particularly dissenting voices like hers.
Chung’s lawsuit highlights her fear of the potential consequences of her activism. The complaint states that the prospect of being detained and deported has «chilled» her willingness to speak out about the situation of Palestinians in Gaza. The lawsuit also emphasizes the potential impact on her family and academic life, as her parents live in the U.S. and her sister is about to start college.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) justifies actions against Chung by citing her alleged involvement in activities related to Hamas, a group designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. This same reasoning was used for the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a former spokesperson for pro-Palestinian protests on campuses.
Chung’s case and the growing concerns about the treatment of non-citizen students in the U.S. continue to spark debate, as further judicial resolutions are expected in the coming months.