Identity of Speakers
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Momodou Taal
Student
OtherPh.D. student in Africana Studies at Cornell University
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Mukoma Wa Ngugi
Faculty/Staff
OtherProfessor of Literatures in English at Cornell University
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Sriram Parasurama
Student
OtherA second-year Ph.D. student in the School of Integrative Plant Sciences at Cornell University
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Lawsuit
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
Litigation
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Incident Status:
In litigation Federal District Court
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
In March 2025, a Cornell University professor and two graduate students filed a federal lawsuit challenging two Trump-era executive orders—Executive Order 14161 and Executive Order 14188—which were officially intended to protect national security and combat anti-Semitism, respectively. However, critics argue that these orders grant broad and vague authority to government officials, enabling monitoring and punitive actions against political speech, particularly pro-Palestinian activism, thereby creating a chilling effect on free expression and academic freedom.
The plaintiffs contend that the executive orders violate their First and Fifth Amendment rights by suppressing political advocacy and allowing government actions, such as visa revocations and deportation threats, without adequate due process. One plaintiff, Momodou Taal, faced such immigration consequences linked to his political expression, illustrating how immigration enforcement intertwines with constitutional free speech claims in this single legal matter.
In March 2025, a federal judge denied the plaintiffs’ request for a temporary restraining order to halt enforcement of the executive orders. Subsequently, Taal voluntarily left the U.S., citing fears for his safety and a lack of confidence in judicial protection.
