Protests

Federal Judge Orders Release of Former Columbia Student Detained Amid Controversy Over Pro-Palestinian Protests

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NEW YORK — A federal judge has ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University, from immigration detention. Khalil had been held since early March as the Trump administration sought to deport him following his involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz issued the order during a hearing conducted over the phone from New Jersey. He described it as “highly unusual” for the government to continue detaining a lawful permanent resident who posed no flight risk and had not been accused of any violent behavior. “He is not … Read more

Protests Erupt in Butler County Over Detained Teen’s Deportation: Community Rallies Amid Immigration Controversy

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BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio — Protests erupted outside the Butler County Jail over the weekend, centered on the detention of 19-year-old Emerson Colindres by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Demonstrators gathered both Sunday night and Monday morning, leading to one arrest amid rising tensions. Colindres, who has lived in the United States since he was eight, came to the country from Honduras in 2014 with his mother, Ada Bell Baquedano-Amador, and younger sister, seeking asylum from gang violence. Court documents from February 2022 reveal that Baquedano-Amador filed for asylum, citing threats and violence in their home … Read more

Trump Activates National Guard in California Amidst Rising Protests Over Immigration Raids: A Clash of State Authority and Federal Power

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Los Angeles, California — Tensions are escalating in California as President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of National Guard troops to the state in response to widespread protests against recent federal immigration raids. The demonstrations, which involved hundreds of participants, were characterized by Trump as a potential challenge to federal authority, even labeling them a “form of rebellion.” California Governor Gavin Newsom swiftly opposed the federal mobilization, formally requesting the Trump Administration to revoke the order, calling it “unlawful” and insisting that the troops be returned to state control. In his justification for the … Read more

Judicial Controversy: North Dakota Judge’s Columbia University Boycott Raises Ethical Questions Amid Campus Protests

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BISMARCK, N.D. — A federal judge in North Dakota has sparked a significant debate over academic hiring practices after announcing he will not recruit law clerks from Columbia University. This decision stems from the university’s handling of protests related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The chief judge of the Eighth Circuit expressed concern that the judge’s actions may set a troubling precedent, yet he also dismissed an ethics complaint against the judge’s boycott. This measure taken by the North Dakota judge draws attention to the larger national discourse surrounding free speech and academic freedom, … Read more