Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University

Rule Changes

Counsel for NAIJ pressing First Amendment and public-right-to-hear arguments

Immigration judges say the Justice Department has effectively muzzled them: speak publicly about immigration and you need permission, and what you say can be steered into "agency talking points." The Trump administration's response has been procedural. You don't get federal court—go through the civil-service machinery first.

Updated Yesterday

Rule Changes

Lead counsel in AAUP v. Rubio lawsuit

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 gave the Secretary of State power to deport noncitizens whose presence threatens U.S. foreign policy. For seven decades, that authority gathered dust. Then, on March 8, 2025, ICE agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil—a Columbia graduate student and green card holder—from his university apartment, invoking the Cold War-era statute to target him for his role negotiating on behalf of pro-Palestinian protesters.

Updated Jan 30