The United States has ramped up its campaign against pro-Palestine student activism, forcing British Gambian scholar Momodou Taal to flee the country under threat of deportation. Taal, a former PhD student at Cornell University, says he became a target after mounting a legal challenge to Trump-era executive orders that crack down on Palestine solidarity movements.

Taal’s situation escalated when U.S. authorities revoked his student visa and dispatched Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to his residence. He described the move as “politically motivated retaliation” for his activism and legal challenge.

“I lost faith I could walk freely without being snatched away,” Taal said in a statement released shortly after leaving the U.S. “The government is weaponizing immigration enforcement to silence dissent.”

His case has sparked alarm across academic and human rights communities, with critics pointing to a disturbing pattern of intimidation and surveillance aimed at pro-Palestinian voices—particularly on college campuses. Taal’s forced departure adds to growing concerns about the erosion of free speech and academic freedom in the U.S.

“If they can deport me for opposing genocide, no one speaking truth to power is safe,” Taal warned. He further emphasized that while the government may target individuals, it cannot suppress a global movement: “They can expel me, but they’ll never stop Palestine from being free.”

Taal’s departure underscores the high stakes for international students and activists engaged in U.S.-based organizing. Legal experts say the case raises critical questions about the limits of protest rights and the use of immigration laws as political tools.

As Taal joins a growing list of pro-Palestinian advocates facing state pressure, his story is a stark reminder of the risks confronting those who challenge U.S. foreign policy. Yet, despite the crackdown, he remains defiant.

“I may be gone from America,” Taal said, “but I’m not done fighting.”