Federal Judge Warns Trump Against Targeting Immigration Status of Students Suing Him Over Free Speech Rights
A federal judge in Boston has issued a stern warning to the Trump administration, instructing them to stop arresting or deporting international students and academic faculty involved in a landmark First Amendment lawsuit against the federal government.
In a ruling that has been hailed as "historic," US District Judge William G. Young ordered the government to clearly prove any arrest, detention, or change in immigration status is based on a legitimate reason unrelated to retaliation. The judge stated that any attempt to change the immigration status of plaintiffs in the case will be presumed to be punishment for speaking out – unless the government can show strong evidence that the action was due to a crime, an expired visa, or another valid reason.
The lawsuit, filed by university faculty and academic groups including chapters at Harvard, NYU, and Rutgers, was sparked by the arrest of international students who were targeted for deportation after their pro-Palestinian activism. The case names President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and ICE Director Todd Lyons as defendants.
In a previous ruling in September, Young found that the federal government had violated the free speech rights of students who were targeted for arrest and possible deportation. One such case was that of Tufts University Ph.D. student Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish national who was detained for six weeks in Louisiana after being taken from a Somerville street by plainclothed ICE agents.
The judge's latest ruling establishes that non-citizens lawfully present in the United States are entitled to the same free speech protections as citizens. "This case — perhaps the most important ever to fall within the jurisdiction of this district court — squarely presents the issue whether non-citizens lawfully present here in the United States actually have the same free speech rights as the rest of us," Young wrote.
Kirsten Weld, a Harvard history professor and president of the university's chapter of the American Association of University Professors, praised the ruling, calling it "historic." "First, Judge Young affirmed unequivocally, without a doubt, that non-citizens lawfully present here in the United States have the same free speech rights as everyone else. So there is no double standard," she said.
The Trump administration has announced plans to appeal both Young's September ruling and his latest order protecting the immigration status of the plaintiffs. However, the judge's warning to the administration makes it clear that any attempt to retaliate against the students and faculty involved in the lawsuit will be met with swift legal action.
A federal judge in Boston has issued a stern warning to the Trump administration, instructing them to stop arresting or deporting international students and academic faculty involved in a landmark First Amendment lawsuit against the federal government.
In a ruling that has been hailed as "historic," US District Judge William G. Young ordered the government to clearly prove any arrest, detention, or change in immigration status is based on a legitimate reason unrelated to retaliation. The judge stated that any attempt to change the immigration status of plaintiffs in the case will be presumed to be punishment for speaking out – unless the government can show strong evidence that the action was due to a crime, an expired visa, or another valid reason.
The lawsuit, filed by university faculty and academic groups including chapters at Harvard, NYU, and Rutgers, was sparked by the arrest of international students who were targeted for deportation after their pro-Palestinian activism. The case names President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and ICE Director Todd Lyons as defendants.
In a previous ruling in September, Young found that the federal government had violated the free speech rights of students who were targeted for arrest and possible deportation. One such case was that of Tufts University Ph.D. student Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish national who was detained for six weeks in Louisiana after being taken from a Somerville street by plainclothed ICE agents.
The judge's latest ruling establishes that non-citizens lawfully present in the United States are entitled to the same free speech protections as citizens. "This case — perhaps the most important ever to fall within the jurisdiction of this district court — squarely presents the issue whether non-citizens lawfully present here in the United States actually have the same free speech rights as the rest of us," Young wrote.
Kirsten Weld, a Harvard history professor and president of the university's chapter of the American Association of University Professors, praised the ruling, calling it "historic." "First, Judge Young affirmed unequivocally, without a doubt, that non-citizens lawfully present here in the United States have the same free speech rights as everyone else. So there is no double standard," she said.
The Trump administration has announced plans to appeal both Young's September ruling and his latest order protecting the immigration status of the plaintiffs. However, the judge's warning to the administration makes it clear that any attempt to retaliate against the students and faculty involved in the lawsuit will be met with swift legal action.
... I mean, can you believe a federal judge is basically saying that Trump's attempts to silence international students for exercising their free speech rights are not cool at all 
. It's like, these students were just trying to speak out about something they care about, and instead of being protected by the law, they're being threatened with deportation 
.
. The judge is basically saying that these students have the same rights as everyone else, and that anyone who tries to change their immigration status without a good reason is just going to be presumed to be doing it for retaliation purposes.
And if anyone thinks they can challenge a federal judge's ruling, they're sadly mistaken 
. This ruling is like, totally historic, and I'm so here for it 
.
. like, can't even imagine how scary it must've been for those international students who were arrested and deported just because they had an opinion 
. but judge young is all about equality and freedom of speech, and that's something we should all be cheering for 
! and i love that the professor from harvard said there's no double standard - it's all about treating everyone equally under the law 
. let's keep pushing for justice and equality, especially for our immigrant friends who just want to learn and grow in this country 
.
It's like they're trying to separate people based on their nationality or immigration status. No way, that's not how it works.
. And to the Trump administration, I'd say: if you're going to try to silence people, at least have the decency to follow due process 
this ruling makes it crystal clear that non-citizens have the same rights as citizens when it comes to free speech, no exceptions 
. It's so unfair that they're being made to feel like their freedom is at risk just because of what they say. This whole situation feels really heavy, and I can only imagine how scary it must be for them. But it's good to know that there are people like Judge Young who are fighting for their rights 
non-cits are entitled to free speech rights too, like what even is the difference? its kinda sick that people r getting arrested & deported for speaking their minds lol anyway i'm literally shook by this ruling, hopefully it sparks some serious change 
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Judge Young's ruling is pretty clear: non-citizens have the same free speech rights as anyone else 
. Targeting people for speaking out or being part of a cause is not cool, period. The government's got enough problems without intimidating law-abiding students just 'cause they're from another country 