Anti-Israel Ivy Leaguer in US on visa urged by ICE to surrender: Court docs
The Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Donald Trump is seeking to have Momodou Taal, an anti-Israel student protester attending Cornell University, surrender to immigration authorities, according to court documents. Taal, who holds dual citizenship in the United Kingdom and Gambia, is currently in the U.S. on a visa.
Eric Lee, Taal’s attorney, was notified via email by a Department of Justice attorney that the government planned to issue a notice to appear to begin deportation proceedings and invited Taal to turn himself in to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday. Lee expressed concerns about Trump’s orders, calling them an “urgent threat of dictatorship.”
Taal, an anti-Israel activist since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, has praised the “resistance” against Israel on his social media accounts. Despite being accepted on a student visa in 2022, Taal has expressed his “hatred” for the U.S. and called for “the end of the US empire.”
Following the news of Taal’s potential deportation, hundreds of Cornell University students, alumni, and faculty held a rally in support of him. Taal, who was not present for the demonstration, reassured his supporters in a social media post, stating, “I’m safe. I’m well. And I await my time to be heard in court.”
A document titled “Jewish Cornellians Stand with Momodou Taal” has been circulating among students and staff at the university, garnering under 50 signatures. In response to the situation, a Trump administration official emphasized the DOJ’s commitment to defending President Trump’s agenda, particularly when it comes to protecting Jewish Americans.
Taal, along with two other students, recently filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for executive orders aimed at combating antisemitism, which they argue violates their First Amendment rights. The DOJ is taking action to protect law and order, investigate anti-Jewish racism, and combat pro-Hamas activities in colleges and universities.
The Trump administration’s efforts to strengthen vetting and screening processes for individuals seeking entry into the U.S. have raised concerns among Ivy League schools and universities. Instances of anti-Israel protests, harassment of Jewish students, violent altercations, and vandalism have been reported on campuses.
Taal’s case follows the targeting of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and anti-Israel activist, for deportation. Khalil, accused of failing to disclose key details on his green card application, including his work with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and a position at the British Embassy in Lebanon, is also facing deportation proceedings.
Cornell University has been contacted for comment on the situation. Jamie Joseph is a U.S. Politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering transgender and culture issues, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, and stateside legislative developments.
