U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has launched an aggressive effort to detain and deport Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old Columbia University student and lawful permanent resident from South Korea. Her crime? Participating in a pro-Palestinian protest.

Chung, who came to the United States with her family at the age of seven and was her high school’s valedictorian, now finds herself at the center of what legal experts are calling a blatant act of political repression. The extraordinary pursuit of a student with legal residency has raised serious concerns about the government’s willingness to wield immigration enforcement as a tool of intimidation against protesters.

A Routine Protest Turns into a Nightmare

The Arrest

Chung was arrested on March 5 during a protest at Columbia University, where students were rallying against the university’s disciplinary actions toward pro-Palestinian activists. The charge against her? “Obstruction of governmental administration,” a misdemeanor so minor that it is often dismissed outright.

Chung was not a leader of the movement, her lawyers stress. She had attended a few protests but was by no means an organizer like Mahmoud Khalil, another Columbia student who was taken into custody for his activism. Nevertheless, Chung’s minor arrest set off a chain reaction that led to an all-out federal pursuit.

Mysterious Messages and Escalating Pressure

Just four days after her arrest, on March 9, Chung received a text message from someone identifying themselves as “Audrey from the police.” The message referenced her recent arrest, though it provided no further details.

That same day, Columbia University’s Public Safety department informed Chung via email that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York had indicated that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents were actively seeking her arrest. The involvement of federal immigration authorities, despite Chung’s lawful permanent resident status, was an immediate red flag.

Then, the situation took an even more chilling turn. ICE agents showed up at her parents’ home, telling them that her legal status had been revoked, a statement that, according to legal experts, was blatantly false.

A Federal Manhunt for a College Student

Raids on Columbia-Owned Residences

On March 13, the crackdown escalated further. Two federal officers executed search warrants at two Columbia-owned residences, including Chung’s dormitory. These aggressive enforcement actions, usually reserved for violent criminals, were now being used against a student protester with no prior offenses.

The unprecedented level of federal involvement in a simple misdemeanor case raised serious alarms among civil liberties advocates, who saw it as an attempt to instill fear in activists across the country.

A Chilling Message to Protesters?

Legal Team Speaks Out

Chung’s lawyers wasted no time in condemning the federal government’s actions. In a lawsuit filed on March 24, they stated:

“ICE’s shocking actions against Ms. Chung form part of a larger pattern of attempted U.S. government repression of constitutionally protected protest activity and other forms of speech.”

The legal team also pointed out that Chung was found not guilty of any policy violations in Columbia’s own disciplinary review process. Yet, despite this, she remains a target of federal authorities in a case that legal experts warn could set a dangerous precedent for immigrant activists across the country.

A Broader Pattern of Repression

Chung is not alone. Her case is part of what appears to be a larger crackdown on immigrant student protesters.

• Mahmoud Khalil, a well-known pro-Palestinian activist at Columbia, has also been targeted.
• Momodou Taal, a Cornell University student, was forced into hiding after ICE agents sought his arrest.
• Other immigrant activists across multiple campuses report increased surveillance and intimidation tactics from federal agencies.

Targeting Protesters or Weaponizing Immigration?

Under the Trump administration, immigration authorities have been accused of using deportation threats as a tool to silence dissent. But what makes Chung’s case particularly alarming is that she is a lawful permanent resident, not an undocumented immigrant.

Legal experts say that if ICE can target someone like Chung, no immigrant is safe from politically motivated enforcement actions.

What Happens Next?

Chung and her legal team are now fighting to prevent her unjust deportation. Civil rights groups, including the ACLU, have condemned the government’s actions, calling them a clear violation of First Amendment rights.

In the coming weeks, all eyes will be on the legal battle unfolding in New York. If ICE succeeds in deporting a lawful, long-time U.S. resident for attending a peaceful protest, the implications for free speech and immigrant rights in America could be devastating.

One thing is clear: Yunseo Chung’s case is no longer just about one student. It has become a symbol of a government willing to trample constitutional rights to silence dissent.