A South Korean student at Columbia University is facing the risk of deportation for participating in protests against the Gaza conflict.
On Monday, the New York Times (NYT) reported that Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old junior student at Columbia University, has filed a lawsuit against U.S. President Donald Trump and relevant cabinet members. Chung argues that the Trump administration’s attempt to deport her, a legal permanent resident, is unjust.
Chung immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was seven and legally resides there as a green card holder.
According to the complaint filed in the Southern District Court of New York, Chung is under investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to her involvement in anti-war protests last year.
The NYT reported that while Chung participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Columbia calling for an end to the Gaza conflict, she did not appear to have drafted any press statements or led the protest. However, she is accused of posting flyers with images of university board members with the phrase “Wanted for complicity in genocide.”
On March 5, Chung joined a protest against the university’s disciplinary actions toward demonstration participants and was arrested along with other protesters by the New York Police Department. She was later released but received a summons for obstructing governmental administration.
Following these events, ICE agents obtained an arrest warrant on March 8 and visited Chung’s parents’ home on March 9. On March 10, U.S. authorities informed Chung’s attorney that her residency status had been revoked. On March 13, they searched Columbia’s dormitories to locate her.
As of now, Chung has not been arrested by U.S. authorities.
Chung filed a lawsuit against Trump and senior officials, arguing that she is a lawful permanent resident and that the government issued the warrant under false pretenses.
She asserts, “The threat of detention and deportation should not be used as a means of punishment against non-citizens who express political views that do not align with the current administration’s stance.”
Meanwhile, U.S. authorities have been taking strong measures, including arrests and deportations, against university students and scholars who have led or participated in pro-Palestinian protests.
