Momodou Taal was studying for his PhD in Africana Studies at Cornell and participated alongside his peers in student demonstrations calling upon Cornell University to divest from Israel. Taal, a dual citizen of Gambia and the United Kingdom, first faced the threat of deportation after being suspended twice last year by Cornell for his participation in these peaceful protests, but was re-enrolled and his student visa extended after massive protests took place on his behalf against Cornell. Now, ICE has followed up on the target Cornell placed on Taal’s back.

Taal’s commitment to justice and advocacy has been unwavering; a couple of weeks ago, Taal joined with two of his fellow students to file a lawsuit challenging Trump’s so-called “antisemitism” executive order targeting student protestors for deportation, arguing that the order unconstitutionally silences students’ right to free speech and protest. Even so, Taal left the U.S. on his own terms because he “lost faith” that he could be safe here. Taal’s case offers further evidence that the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant agenda is inextricable from its parallel mission to silence and exact vengeance upon anyone who voices dissent or challenges the actions of the U.S. government.

(Taken from an email sent to me by Never Again Action.)