Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old Columbia University student who has been living in the United States since she was a child, recently sued President Trump and other administration officials after immigration officials attempted to arrest and deport her. Chung, who is a legal permanent resident and junior at the university, has participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the school. The Trump administration has argued that her presence in the U.S. impedes their foreign policy agenda of combatting antisemitism. This situation is similar to the recent arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, another graduate of the university and permanent resident, with the administration citing similar reasons for his detainment.
Unlike Khalil, Chung was not a prominent figure in the protests at Columbia University. Despite not being arrested, immigration officials have made several unsuccessful attempts to arrest her. Agents undertook extensive efforts to locate Chung, including visiting various residences and seeking help from federal prosecutors. The involvement of federal prosecutors indicates a potential broader criminal investigation into the university, with ICE officers targeting those who shelter noncitizens in their homes. This could signal a new tactic in the administration’s immigration crackdown, focusing on immigrants who are in the country legally.
Chung, a high school valedictorian who moved to the U.S. from South Korea at the age of 7, majors in English and gender studies. She has participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the university, although her lawyers state that she did not hold any leadership position among the demonstrators. The attempted arrest of Chung is part of a new front in the administration’s enforcement against immigrants who are in the U.S. legally. This differs from previous arrests targeting pro-Palestinian demonstrators who were not legal residents. The administration has also sought to arrest other individuals, such as Momodou Taal and Ranjani Srinivasan, for their participation in similar protests.
The recent events leading to ICE agents showing up at Chung’s house began with her participation in a protest outside a university building where pro-Palestinian student demonstrators were holding a sit-in. She was arrested by police but released soon after. Immigration officials later appeared at her parents’ home, indicating their intent to arrest her. Chung’s lawyer received a text message from someone claiming to be with ICE, informing them of an administrative warrant for Chung’s arrest. The involvement of federal prosecutors and discussions with the State Department further complicated the situation.
In Chung’s lawsuit, her lawyers argue that the government obtained warrants under false pretenses and used the harboring statute as a pretext to detain her. They requested that a judge prevent the government from taking any enforcement actions against Chung. The lawsuit also aims to prevent the government from targeting noncitizens for deportation based on constitutionally protected speech and advocacy for the pro-Palestinian movement. The suit highlights the government’s initiatives in targeting legal immigrants involved in political activism, reflecting a broader crackdown on immigration under President Trump. The legal battle surrounding Chung’s case raises questions about the intersection of free speech, immigration policies, and foreign policy agendas.
