According to Taal’s attorneys, U.S. immigration officials contacted the legal team of Momodou Taal, a Cornell University student involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, via email on Friday, requesting his surrender as part of the deportation process. Taal, a doctoral candidate with citizenship in the UK and the Gambia, has taken part in protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza following an incident involving Hamas in October 2023. President Donald Trump has vowed to deport foreign activists supporting Palestine, accusing them of backing Hamas and exhibiting antisemitic behavior. Taal’s legal representatives have labeled this development as an attack on freedom of speech. The notice from ICE asked Taal and his attorneys to meet at the Homeland Security Investigations Office in Syracuse for the delivery of the Notice to Appear and his transfer into ICE custody. No specific timeline was provided and ICE refrained from commenting immediately. Last year, Taal was part of a group that disrupted a campus career fair featuring arms manufacturers, leading to remote study orders by the university. Trump’s administration has pursued the deportation of other foreign individuals involved in pro-Palestinian activities. Human rights groups have strongly criticized these deportation efforts. Mahmoud Khalil, a protester from Columbia University, was recently arrested and is challenging his detention in court. Trump accused Khalil of supporting Hamas without substantiating his claim. Similarly, Badar Khan Suri, an Indian student at Georgetown University, was detained this week, with his lawyer denying any Hamas affiliation. A federal judge has halted Suri’s deportation.
