Press Release
Published on May 30, 2025
NEW YORK, NY — Yesterday, May 29, 2025, attorneys for Columbia University student Yunseo Chung appeared in court to seek continued protection against arrest and deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arguing that such actions would violate her Constitutional rights to free speech and due process.
Judge Naomi Buchwald pressed the government on their insistence that detaining Ms. Chung was necessary, noting the traumatic and unnecessary harm it would cause. Both parties will be back in court next week on Thursday, June 5th at 1:45 pm. Until then, the protective order barring ICE from arresting Ms. Chung remains in effect.
Ms. Chung’s attorneys believe that the government’s demand for detention has nothing to do with legal necessity—it’s about arresting and transferring Ms. Chung to a detention center far away from her family and legal counsel. There is no justification for Ms. Chung—a lawful permanent resident with no criminal record and a strong academic standing—to be held in ICE detention. We will continue to advocate for her in court next week.
Media Contacts:
CLEAR: cunyclear@law.cuny.edu
Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP: Redmond Haskins, rhaskins@legal-aid.org, c: 929-441-2384
Human Rights First: Press@HumanRightsFirst.org
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the SF Bay Area: Raya Steier, rsteier@lccrsf.org, c:530-723-2426
