Columbia Student Deportation Case Tied to Federal Memo

Yunseo Chung, a Korean student at Columbia University, was one of two legal permanent residents named as deportation targets in a federal government memo, according to a report by local outlet The City on April 15.

Federal official’s memo escalated targeting

Federal sources confirmed for the first time that Chung and Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student, were both named in a memo issued by a senior U.S. official. The memo stated that allowing Chung to remain in the country could cause “seriously adverse foreign policy consequences.”

Attorneys for Chung claim this memo directly triggered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to pursue deportation.

Arrest followed pro-Palestine protest

Chung was arrested on March 5, during a pro-Palestinian protest at Barnard College, which is affiliated with Columbia. She was charged with obstruction of government administration and disorderly conduct. On March 7, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shared information on Chung and Khalil with the State Department, after which both were reportedly flagged for deportation, according to The City.

In response, Chung filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, challenging the government’s actions. The court ordered immigration officials to temporarily halt efforts to detain or deport her.

Another Columbia student detained

Separately, Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian legal permanent resident and fellow Columbia student, was arrested in Vermont on April 14. He had traveled to an ICE field office for a citizenship interview and was detained on-site.

The Columbia student deportation case has raised concerns among civil rights advocates about selective enforcement based on political protest participation.

Related Articles:

• Korean Student Faces Deportation Over Gaza Protest Participation

BY EUNBYUL KIM [kim.eb@koreadailyny.com]