Cornell University Graduate Student Leaving U.S. After Visa Revoked Amid Lawsuit Against Trump Administration

Cornell University Graduate Student Leaves U.S. Voluntarily After Visa Revoked Amid Lawsuit Against Trump Administration

Momodou Taal, a graduate student at Cornell University, has announced his decision to leave the United States voluntarily after his visa was revoked following his involvement in a lawsuit against the Trump administration. Taal, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Gambia, made the announcement on Monday, stating that he is leaving the country “free and with my head held high.”

Taal, 31, had filed a lawsuit last month along with two U.S. citizens challenging the Trump administration’s executive orders aimed at combating anti-Semitism on college campuses and expelling foreign nationals deemed national security threats. In the lawsuit, Taal and the other plaintiffs argued that the orders infringed on their constitutional rights and silenced protected expression critical of the U.S. government or Israel.

Following the lawsuit, the Justice Department asked Taal to surrender to immigration authorities, leading to the revocation of his student visa and attempts to prevent the case from going to court. Despite efforts to keep him out of detention while the lawsuit was ongoing, the case was ultimately dismissed on Monday night.

In response to Taal’s departure, White House press spokesperson Harrison Fields said, “Good riddance!” Taal, however, warned that the administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists sets a dangerous precedent and undermines freedom of expression in the U.S.

Taal’s decision to leave the country highlights the challenges faced by individuals advocating for Palestinian solidarity and the impact of government actions on their ability to express their beliefs freely.