New York Attorney General Letitia James, together with 18 other attorneys general, has initiated legal action against the Trump administration’s so-called “Ideological Deportation Policy.” This move seeks to stop efforts targeting the arrest, detention, and deportation of noncitizens for expressing their beliefs. The legal challenge comes in the form of an amicus brief in the case of American Association of University Professors v. Rubio, aiming to block the enforcement of a policy they claim violates the First Amendment.
“Our democracy depends on the freedom to think, to speak, and to learn without fear,” stated Attorney General James. “No one should face detention or deportation for exercising their right to free speech – not in New York, or in any other state in our nation. This policy is a dangerous overreach, and I will not allow fear and censorship to replace freedom and opportunity. My office is standing firmly against any effort to weaponize immigration to silence free speech and dissent.”
The attorneys general accuse the Trump administration of using immigration enforcement to target individuals for their political beliefs, which they argue is unconstitutional. They point to reports of over 800 visa cancellations and federal actions such as the arrest of a Tufts University PhD student by plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents following her co-authored op-ed as examples of intimidation tactics.
This aggressive approach is said to have no public safety or national security benefits and instead aims to silence noncitizens, thus infringing on their rights. The coalition, led by Attorney General James, warns of the negative consequences this policy has on the educational sector, arguing it stifles academic freedom and discourages international engagement, impacting research and state economies.
The policy's broader impacts may include reduced reporting of crimes and healthcare access among noncitizens, weakening public safety and health, and undermining religious freedoms. The economic downturn includes a decline in international student applications, visa issues, and participation in academia and industry.
Attorney General James and her colleagues are asking the Court to intervene and block the policy, which they believe makes states less secure and hinders democratic freedoms. Joining James in the brief are attorneys general from states including Arizona, California, and Massachusetts, as well as the District of Columbia.