Cornell student’s visa revoked amid legal battle over free speech and deportation

A legal battle is unfolding in Syracuse, New York, as Momodou Taal, a doctoral student at Cornell University, fights to remain in the United States after the State Department revoked his student visa. Taal and his attorneys argue that the Trump administration is targeting him for his participation in pro-Palestinian protests, raising questions about whether the U.S. government can take action against individuals based on their political views.

Taal, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and The Gambia, recently filed a lawsuit against the administration, seeking to prevent his deportation. His legal team contends that the revocation of his visa was a direct response to his activism and that his case sets a troubling precedent for free speech in the U.S.

Taal’s case has drawn national attention, as attorneys and activists view it as a critical test of free expression and government authority. Following a federal court hearing in Syracuse, his attorney, Eric Lee, warned that the implications of the case extend beyond Taal himself.

“It doesn’t end with Momodou Taal; it starts with him,” Lee stated. “Next, it will be you.”

Taal did not attend the hearing, but two of his co-plaintiffs, Mukoma Wa Ngugi, a Cornell professor, and Sriram Parasurama, a fellow doctoral student, were present. Ngugi expressed deep concern about the implications of the case, questioning whether the U.S. is becoming a nation where plaintiffs cannot safely attend their own legal proceedings.

Taal has faced scrutiny for his online comments following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people. In a post on social media, he wrote, “Colonized peoples have the right to resist by any means necessary” and “Glory to the resistance!” These statements led to public backlash and disciplinary actions from Cornell University.

The university twice suspended Taal in 2023 for what it deemed disruptive protest activities, warning him that his visa status could be jeopardized as a result. Despite these warnings, Taal continued his activism, leading to his visa being officially revoked on March 14, 2025.

According to court filings from the Department of Justice, the State Department revoked Taal’s visa due to his involvement in protests that, officials claim, created a hostile environment on campus. The government maintains that the decision was not retaliatory but based on concerns over public safety and university policies.

“State relied upon the underlying information and assessment provided by ICE that Taal had been involved with disruptive protests and had engaged in an escalating pattern of behavior, disregarding university policies and creating a hostile environment for Jewish students,” Justice Department attorneys wrote in court documents.

Taal’s attorneys argue that the revocation of his visa just one day before he filed his lawsuit is evidence of political retaliation. They further allege that undercover immigration officers visited his residence as an intimidation tactic following the filing of his legal action.

Taal’s case is one of several involving student activists facing deportation orders in recent weeks. Unlike others, however, he proactively filed a lawsuit to block enforcement actions before being taken into custody. His case has become a flashpoint in the national debate over free speech, immigration enforcement, and government overreach.

Adding to the controversy, Taal is among several activists identified for potential deportation by Betar US, a self-described Zionist advocacy organization that has drawn criticism from civil rights groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, for its classification as an extremist entity.

The federal judge overseeing Taal’s case has yet to rule on his request for an injunction against his deportation. His attorneys remain hopeful, asserting that legal precedent supports their argument.

“I wasn’t convinced by the government’s arguments in there,” Lee remarked. “But I wasn’t convinced by their arguments before either.”

As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome of Taal’s case could have far-reaching consequences for international students engaged in political activism within the U.S., potentially shaping future policies on immigration and free speech.