The Guardian · US news · Original story
Why were these two US immigration judges fired? | Seth Stern
The case of two fired judges – and one who kept his job – offers a lesson in the administration’s view of free speech
The Trump administration believes some noncitizens may not even have first amendment rights. And it’s turning that legal fantasy into a reality by making immigration judges choose between the constitution and their jobs.
Last week, the judge who rejected the deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk, the Tufts doctoral student whose only offense was co-writing an op-ed critical of Israel, was fired after upholding the law. Judge Roopal Patel rejected the administration’s argument that expressing views shared by millions of Americans disturbed by the carnage in Gaza – sometimes including Donald Trump himself – equates to supporting terrorism and antisemitism.
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Seth Stern · Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 4:00 AM
US news | The Guardian
The case of two fired judges – and one who kept his job – offers a lesson in the administration’s view of free speech
The Trump administration believes some noncitizens may not even have first amendment rights. And it’s turning that legal fantasy into a reality by making immigration judges choose between the constitution and their jobs.
Last week, the judge who rejected the deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk, the Tufts doctoral student whose only offense was co-writing an op-ed critical of Israel, was fired after upholding the law. Judge Roopal Patel rejected the administration’s argument that expressing views shared by millions of Americans disturbed by the carnage in Gaza – sometimes including Donald Trump himself – equates to supporting terrorism and antisemitism.
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