A federal judge in Boston ruled that the Trump administration violated the U.S. Constitution by targeting non-citizens for deportation based on their support for Palestinians and criticisms of Israel. The judge, William Young, criticized President Donald Trump and his policies, labeling them as serious threats to free speech. The policy was deemed to breach the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act, with Young stating that non-citizens in the U.S. have the same free speech rights as citizens.
University associations had challenged the policy, which they described as a form of ideological deportation. The ruling was welcomed by the plaintiffs, including Todd Wolfson of the American Association of University Professors union, who condemned the administration’s attempt to deport individuals for their political views.
During the trial, witnesses testified that the Trump administration had targeted students and scholars critical of Israel or supportive of Palestinians. The judge criticized the Department of Homeland Security for its actions, linking them to a deadly shooting at an ICE facility in Texas.
Despite claims from the Trump administration that there was no ideological deportation policy, evidence presented during the trial suggested otherwise. The judge will consider the relief requested by the plaintiffs, likely involving a demand for the administration to cease engaging in ideological deportations.