Judge deals blow to Trump moves to deport pro-Palestinian activists
The ruling found immigration officials used vague laws to punish protected speech and said the policy chilled student journalism, the court said.
- On Friday, U.S. District Judge Noel Wise ruled that the Trump administration violated the Constitution by using immigration laws to deport students critical of Israeli policies in Gaza.
- The Stanford Daily and two international students sued the administration in August 2025, claiming federal officials weaponized the Immigration and Nationality Act to revoke visas for protected speech.
- Court documents reveal the newspaper's coverage suffered a "chilling effect," with more than 150 members declining to cover protests or the war in Gaza for fear of deportation.
- Editor-in-Chief George Porteous celebrated the ruling, stating "Today's victory means they won't have to" fear deportation, while FIRE attorney Conor Fitzpatrick called free speech an inalienable right.
- Wise criticized Secretary of State Marco Rubio's "standardless" enforcement of visa revocations, noting the government cannot punish citizens or noncitizens simply because officials dislike their protected political speech.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Because of their criticism of Israel or solidarity with Palestine, the Trump administration deprived some students of their visas. A federal judge now states: The legal basis had shortcomings.
Judge strikes down Trump visa policy targeting foreign pro-Palestinian university students
The judge said that in the United States, free speech, including the freedom to criticize the government and its leaders, was evidence of the strength of the country's democracy.
The visa was withdrawn from the students for pro-Palestinian statements.
Judge deals setback to Trump’s bid to deport pro-Palestinian activists
A federal judge in California has ruled that the Trump administration’s use of immigration laws to revoke visas and pursue deportation of noncitizen college students over pro-Palestinian advocacy is unconstitutional
Palo Alto Online
Judge sides with The Stanford Daily, rules federal government violated constitution
In a sweeping ruling with national implications, a federal judge sided with The Stanford Daily and ruled on Friday that the federal government violated the U.S. Constitution when it targeted student journalists who wrote stories that criticized Israel and participated in pro-Palestinian demonstration. The post Judge sides with The Stanford Daily, rules federal government violated constitution appeared first on Palo Alto Online.
US judge rules Trump administration unlawfully targeted pro-Palestine activists
US District Judge Noel Wise in San Jose, California in a blistering ruling, chastised the US State Department and US Department of Homeland Security for how they had deployed provisions of federal immigration law to target non-citizens for deportation for expressing views they wanted to suppress.
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