A Chinese graduate student at UCLA finds herself at the center of a growing debate over free speech and immigration policy following the implementation of President Trump's recent executive order targeting international students involved in pro-Palestinian activism.
Liu Lijun, who was arrested in May 2024 during campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, has had her student visa revoked and now faces deportation to China. Her case represents one of the first applications of the administration's new policy aimed at what officials describe as combating antisemitism on college campuses.
The executive order, which specifically addresses international students' participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights organizations. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned the measure, arguing it infringes on constitutionally protected rights to free speech and peaceful assembly.
"This case raises serious concerns about the intersection of immigration policy and First Amendment rights," said a CAIR spokesperson. "International students shouldn't have to choose between their education and their right to peaceful political expression."
The policy has particular implications for the thousands of international students studying at American universities. Legal experts note that while U.S. citizens' right to protest is protected under the First Amendment, non-citizens on student visas face additional vulnerabilities under the new executive order.
As Liu awaits her deportation proceedings, her case has become a flashpoint in the broader national conversation about academic freedom, student activism, and the limits of political expression for international students in American universities.
The UCLA administration has not commented on the specific details of Liu's case, citing student privacy laws, but has released a statement reaffirming its commitment to protecting both student safety and freedom of expression on campus.