According to the New York Times, a U.S. court ordered on the 25th (local time) to halt deportation attempts against Chung Mo (21), a Korean student at Columbia University, who is facing deportation from the U.S. for allegedly attending an anti-war protest.
Naomi Buchwald, a judge of the U.S. Southern District Court of New York, stated during the hearing, “There is nothing in the record that suggests Mr. Chung poses a danger to the community, threatens foreign policy, or has communicated with a terrorist organization.”
Chung had filed a lawsuit the previous day against U.S. President Donald Trump and related officials, seeking to stop the deportation proceedings against him.
According to the lawsuit, Chung, a third-year student at Columbia University, had been under surveillance by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for his history of participating in anti-war protests.
Chung, who immigrated to the U.S. with his parents at the age of seven, graduated high school as valedictorian and was admitted to the prestigious Ivy League institution, Columbia University.
Chung, who was a permanent resident, became a target of immigration authorities after he was arrested by the police for participating in a protest opposing campus disciplinary measures against anti-war protest participants.
U.S. authorities notified Chung’s attorney that his permanent resident status had been revoked and searched Columbia University dorms to locate him.
In the lawsuit, Chung argued that “using immigration detention and the threat of deportation as a means of punishment for expressing political views contrary to the current administration’s stance should not be allowed.”
U.S. authorities have been taking strong measures, such as arresting and deporting university students and scholars with prior involvement in, or participation in, pro-Palestinian protests.
ICE started by arresting Mahmoud Khalil, who was in charge of negotiations with university authorities and media responses during the Columbia University anti-war protest on the 8th, and has been arresting those involved in the protests sequentially.
The U.S. federal court had previously halted the procedures by authorities to deport Khalil.
[Photo Source: Yonhap News]
■ To report:
▷ Phone: 02-781-1234, 4444
▷ Email: kbs1234@kbs.co.kr
▷ KakaoTalk: Search ‘KBS제보’, add channel
▷ Subscribe to KBS News on Naver and YouTube!