Judge blocks Trump student deportations
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Federal judge Noël Wise ruled Trump's student deportations unconstitutional, citing First and Fifth Amendments.
The ruling protects free speech for noncitizen students, affirming criticism of government is protected.
Background
The Trump administration, starting in March 2025, began revoking visas and detaining noncitizen students engaged in pro-Palestinian advocacy, citing potential harm to foreign relations. The Stanford Daily sued, arguing its writers self-censored due to deportation fears. Judge Wise's ruling, issued Friday in San Jose, California, found the administration's actions violated constitutional free speech and due process protections.
How it unfolded
- Mar 2025Trump administration began revoking visas and detaining noncitizen students for pro-Palestinian advocacy, starting with Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil.
- Aug 2025The Stanford Daily sued, challenging the administration's policy, citing self-censorship among its writers.
- Aug 29, 2026Judge Noël Wise ruled the administration's actions unconstitutional, citing First and Fifth Amendment violations, in a 90-page ruling.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The State Department and DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
- Support
- Stanford Daily editor George Porteous celebrated the ruling, saying reporters shouldn't fear deportation for writing stories.
- Caution
- The federal administration maintained a firm stance in defense of national sovereignty and immigration control, per Voz.us.
Still unverified
The administration's characterization of students as 'pro-Hamas' is disputed; the judge noted the government's approach threatened protected speech.