A federal judge in Manhattan has issued a temporary restraining order that halts the detention of Columbia University student Yunseo Chung by federal immigration authorities, as per the ruling. Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald's decision comes amidst ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to initiate deportation proceedings against Chung, a 21-year-old junior at the university. The judge stated from the bench that "Nothing in the record has indicated in any way that she is a danger," barring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from taking custody of Chung during her pending lawsuit against the administration, as reported by Gothamist.
Chung's legal troubles began earlier this month when ICE attempted to apprehend her at her parent's home and her dormitory following her participation in protests at the university, although she did not arise as a visible figure or leader within said movements her involvement has led her to become a target for immigration enforcement within the nets of the Trump administration, according to her attorneys. They argue that Chung is one of several pro-Palestinian demonstrators from Columbia and various other universities who have found themselves in the crosshairs of ICE. And as Gothamist reported the Department of Homeland Security alluded to Chung’s arrest by NYPD during what was described as a “pro-Hamas” protest, as part of their rationale for seeking removal proceedings.
The decision to block Chung's detention also bars transferring her to another court jurisdiction, a fate that befell Mahmoud Khalil, another Columbia student protester whose high-profile ICE arrest in Louisiana has kept him in custody. Chung, originally from South Korea, immigrated at the age of seven and is currently a permanent U.S. resident, embroiled now in a fight to remain in the country she views as home. Her attorney, Ramzi Kassem, lauded the judge's recent decision, telling reporters, "As of today, Yunseo no longer has to live in fear of ICE coming to her doorstep," citing information from Gothamist.
Kassem also mentioned in court that Chung is keeping up with her studies in the hope to wrap up her junior year successfully, despite the looming shadow of her legal battles, and no matter what ongoing dialogue and deliberations regarding her status take place Chung still holds the cards of a resident within her hands, despite being denied the certainty most take for granted. The New York Post quoted Kassem pushing back against negative discourse surrounding Chung's residency status, saying, "No matter what [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio says, she remains a permanent resident."
