Overview
- U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick issued a temporary restraining order on Dec. 25 barring officials from arresting, detaining, transferring, or deporting Imran Ahmed while the case proceeds.
- Ahmed, a British citizen and U.S. green card holder who lives with his American wife and child, sued senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alleging unconstitutional retaliation for his advocacy.
- A court conference is set for Dec. 29 in the Southern District of New York, and the order preserves the status quo without resolving the merits of his First Amendment and due process claims.
- The State Department this week imposed visa restrictions on five Europeans—among them Thierry Breton, Clare Melford, Josephine Ballon, and Anna‑Lena von Hodenberg—saying they led organized efforts to coerce U.S. platforms to suppress American viewpoints.
- The administration cites the Immigration and Nationality Act’s foreign‑policy ground for deportability (8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(4)(C)), while Ahmed’s background includes high‑profile clashes with tech firms, including X’s 2023 suit against CCDH that was dismissed in 2024 with an appeal pending.