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Pro-Palestinian Student and Permanent US Resident Sues to Halt Deportation

Students wait in long security lines outside of Columbia University as demonstrators continue to rally in support of Palestine and to protest the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder who played a role in pro-Palestinian protests, outside of Columbia University on March 24, 2025 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Students wait in long security lines outside of Columbia University as demonstrators continue to rally in support of Palestine and to protest the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder who played a role in pro-Palestinian protests, outside of Columbia University on March 24, 2025 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Pro-Palestinian Student and Permanent US Resident Sues to Halt Deportation

Students wait in long security lines outside of Columbia University as demonstrators continue to rally in support of Palestine and to protest the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder who played a role in pro-Palestinian protests, outside of Columbia University on March 24, 2025 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Students wait in long security lines outside of Columbia University as demonstrators continue to rally in support of Palestine and to protest the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder who played a role in pro-Palestinian protests, outside of Columbia University on March 24, 2025 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)

A Korean American Columbia University student, who is a legal permanent US resident and has participated in pro-Palestinian protests, sued the administration of President Donald Trump on Monday to prevent her deportation, a court filing showed.

Yunseo Chung, 21, has lived in the US since she was seven, but her legal team was informed two weeks ago that her lawful permanent resident status was being revoked, according to the court filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The Trump administration says her US presence hinders its foreign policy agenda, according to the lawsuit. Chung has not yet been arrested. Immigration agents have made multiple visits to her residences looking for her.

Trump has pledged to deport foreign pro-Palestinian protesters and accused them of supporting the Hamas group, of posing hurdles for US foreign policy and of being antisemitic.

Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the administration wrongly conflates their criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian rights with antisemitism and support for Hamas. Human rights advocates have condemned the government's moves.

Columbia protester Mahmoud Khalil, who was arrested this month and is legally challenging his detention, is also a lawful permanent resident. Trump, without evidence, accused Khalil of supporting Hamas, which Khalil denies.

Actions against Chung "form part of a larger pattern of attempted US government repression of constitutionally protected protest activity and other forms of speech," Monday's lawsuit said.

"The government's repression has focused specifically on university students who speak out in solidarity with Palestinians and who are critical of the Israeli government's ongoing military campaign in Gaza."

A spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security alleged Chung has engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by police during a protest at Barnard College that DHS termed "pro-Hamas."

The spokesperson did not elaborate further on the specifics of that conduct in question but said she was "sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws" and will have a chance to present her case before an immigration judge.

Badar Khan Suri, an Indian studying at Georgetown University, was detained last week. A federal judge barred Suri's deportation.

US officials on Friday asked Cornell University student Momodou Taal to turn himself in, Taal's attorneys said, adding his visa was being revoked.

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Iranians Seek Temporary Refuge in Neighboring Türkiye as Conflict with Israel Escalates

Iranians arrive to cross into Iran at Gurbulak Bazargan border post, in Gurbulak, Turkey, Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP)
Iranians arrive to cross into Iran at Gurbulak Bazargan border post, in Gurbulak, Turkey, Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP)
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Iranians Seek Temporary Refuge in Neighboring Türkiye as Conflict with Israel Escalates

Iranians arrive to cross into Iran at Gurbulak Bazargan border post, in Gurbulak, Turkey, Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP)
Iranians arrive to cross into Iran at Gurbulak Bazargan border post, in Gurbulak, Turkey, Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP)

At a border crossing between Türkiye and Iran, Shirin Talebi was anxiously waiting on Monday for her children and grandchildren to arrive from Tehran. The family are planning to stay for a month or two in Türkiye, seeking temporary refuge from the conflict between Israel and Iran.

"I’m here because of safety. They are bombing. My children have small children of their own," said Talebi, who had just arrived at the Gurbulak-Bazargan border crossing from the Iranian city of Urmia.

"Hopefully, it is over in one or two months so we can return to our country," she said.

Türkiye, which shares a 569 kilometer-long (348 miles) border with Iran, has expressed deep concern over the escalating armed conflict between Iran and Israel.

Israel launched an assault on Iran’s top military leaders, uranium enrichment sites and nuclear scientists that it said was necessary to prevent the country from getting any closer to building an atomic weapon. Friday's surprise attack came two days before Iran and the US were set to hold a negotiating session for a deal over Tehran's nuclear program.

Iran has retaliated by firing waves of ballistic missiles at Israel.

There are fears in Türkiye that a prolonged conflict could threaten its security, cause energy disruptions and lead to refugee flows.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that Türkiye was ready to act as a "facilitator" toward ending the conflict and resuming nuclear negotiations in telephone calls with US President Donald Trump and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Observers have noted an increase in arrivals from Iran since the conflict, though Turkish officials have dismissed social media reports of a large-scale refugee influx as unfounded. Türkiye has not provided any official figures for arrivals.

"Our Ministry of Interior and relevant security units confirm that there is no unusual movement, congestion or irregular crossing at both the Kapıkoy and Gurbulak border gates," the Turkish presidential communications office said.

Türkiye allows Iranians to enter the country without a visa for tourism purposes and stay for up to 90 days.

At Gurbulak, one of the busiest crossings between Türkiye and Iran, bus driver Ferit Aktas had just brought a group of Iranians to the border gate from Istanbul and was waiting to pick up others.

"About a week or 10 days ago, there would be between three and five people (Iranians) who would come for shopping or tourism. But now, I can say, that there are at least 30 Iranians in my vehicle per day," he said.

"They say, ‘We are not safe there and we are forced to come.’ Most of them want to go to Europe, they want to go to Europe through Türkiye," Aktas said.

Mejid Dehimi, also from Umria, arrived in Türkiye for a week-long break, not to escape the conflict. He expressed support for his country’s leaders.

"We are not afraid of death," he said. "We will stand against Israel until our last breath and for as long as our lives allow."