University student targeted by Trump leaves the US

A graduate student at Cornell University named Momodou Taal has made the difficult decision to leave the United States rather than face deportation. His student visa was revoked because of his participation in protests against Israel during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. Momodou holds dual citizenship in the UK and The Gambia. He had previously attempted to challenge his deportation in court, but on Monday, he announced on social media that he had chosen to leave the country 'free and with my head held high. ' This decision comes in the wake of the Trump administration's crackdown on international students who have been vocal in their opposition to Israel on college campuses. Momodou is at least the second international student to opt for leaving the US after being targeted for removal by the Department of Homeland Security. The Trump administration refers to these cases as 'self-deportations. ' In his post, Momodou expressed his loss of faith in the judicial system, stating that he no longer believed a favorable court ruling would ensure his safety or his ability to express his beliefs. He mentioned feeling unsafe walking the streets, fearing abduction. After weighing his options, he decided to leave on his own terms. Momodou had faced suspension from Cornell University, an Ivy League institution in New York, on two occasions due to his protest activities. On the day of a significant attack by Hamas against Israel, he had posted a message declaring, 'Glory to the Resistance. ' He later addressed a crowd of protesters, stating, 'We are in solidarity with the armed resistance in Palestine from the river to the sea. ' According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, over 300 university students have had their student visas revoked due to their involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. The Trump administration argues that the Immigration and Nationality Act permits the State Department to deport non-citizens who are seen as 'adversarial to the foreign policy and national security interests' of the United States. These deportations are part of Trump's commitment to combat what his administration has labeled antisemitism, a stance that was formalized in an executive order issued in January. Critics of these actions have condemned the deportations as violations of free speech. Another student, Ranjani Srinivasan from India, also chose to leave the US, stating her desire to clear her name. 'I'm not a terrorist sympathiser,' she told CNN, emphasizing that she is 'literally just a random student. ' Ranjani hopes to return to Columbia University, which was a focal point for student protests last year, to complete her PhD program.