Cornell Graduate Student Exits US Amid Tensions Over Protest Visa Revocation

Momodou Taal, a Cornell University graduate student whose visa was revoked due to his involvement in protests against Israel, has decided to leave the United States instead of facing deportation. Taal's departure raises concerns about the implications of recent deportation policies affecting international students involved in political activism.

A Cornell University graduate student, Momodou Taal, has made the decision to leave the United States voluntarily, following the revocation of his student visa linked to his protest activities against Israel during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. Taal, a dual citizen of the UK and The Gambia, announced his departure on social media, stating he is leaving "free and with my head held high" after a judge denied his request to stay in the country temporarily.

The decision comes in the context of heightened scrutiny of international students by the Trump administration, which has intensified its crackdown on university students participating in protests related to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Having faced two suspensions from Cornell due to his activism, Taal expressed a lack of faith in the judicial system's ability to protect him, stating he was concerned about personal safety and potential abduction.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that over 300 student visas were revoked for similar reasons, characterizing these cases as "self-deportations." The administration argues that revoking the visas is justified under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which targets individuals deemed adversarial to U.S. foreign policy and national security. Critics, however, view these measures as direct infringements on free speech rights.

Taal's case is not isolated; another student, Indian scholar Ranjani Srinivasan, also left the US amid similar visa issues and expressed a desire to clear her name to continue her studies at Columbia University, where many protests occurred. The administration's actions, seen as part of an effort to combat perceived antisemitism, have stirred debate over civil liberties and the rights of international students engaged in political discourse on campus.