Cornell University graduate student Momodou Taal, a joint citizen of the UK and The Gambia, has left the U.S. after his student visa was revoked due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. Initially seeking legal action to block his deportation, Taal ultimately chose to leave, stating he no longer felt safe in the U.S. or confident in the legal system. He expressed fears of being targeted for his political beliefs and emphasized that his departure was on his own terms.
His case is part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration on international students engaged in pro-Palestinian activism, with at least 300 students having their visas revoked under the Immigration and Nationality Act. The administration argues that such individuals pose a threat to U.S. foreign policy and national security.
Taal had been suspended twice from Cornell for his protest activities. On the day of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, he posted messages in support of Palestinian resistance, which were later cited as evidence against him.
Another student, Indian scholar Ranjani Srinivasan, also left the U.S. after being targeted for deportation. She denied any extremist affiliations and expressed her hope of returning to Columbia University to complete her PhD.
The deportations, framed by the administration as “self-deportations,” are part of an executive order signed in January aimed at combating what it classifies as antisemitism. Critics, however, argue that the policy violates free speech rights and disproportionately targets pro-Palestinian activists on university campuses.
