As an international student, I came to this country with a strong belief in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution — the one that protects the right to free speech, expression and peaceful assembly for social, political, economic and religious purposes. Because of this, I cannot ignore how Cornell University’s recent actions against doctoral student Momodou Taal starkly contradict this core American value.
Earlier this year, Cornell introduced a controversial new policy. Taal, an international graduate student and teacher, was one of four students suspended in April 2024 under this policy after participating in the pro-Palestinian encampment (The Liberated Zone) at Cornell. On Sept. 18, Taal joined over 100 students in a protest organized by the Coalition for Mutual Liberation, targeting the presence of Boeing and L3Harris — two companies criticized for supplying arms to Israel.
Although Taal was at the protest for only about five minutes, the university suspended him again, placing his F-1 visa status — and consequently, his ability to stay in the country — at risk. He was not even given a student conduct hearing. There was no due process and no evidence provided against him.
The absence of a fair hearing for Taal highlights a gap in free speech protections for international students. Unlike domestic students, whose rights may be more well protected, those on visas are often at the mercy of institutional decisions without sufficient legal resources. This can leave us feeling more vulnerable and put our academic freedom at risk. If students are punished for participating in peaceful protests on campus, this threatens the integrity of an academic environment where critical discussion and participating in movements for justice should be part of the learning experience.
As an international student on an F-1 visa myself who strongly believes in the liberation of Palestine and has attended similar pro-Palestinian gatherings, I wonder how such actions by the university impacts students like me. Nationwide, these actions set a concerning precedent where students who express political speech, which is the most protected right by Constitutional law, can be removed from the country if subject to multiple suspensions. If Taal is deported, he will not only face significant financial losses, but will also be unable to complete his degree. The thought of being forced to leave a place where you have built a life is deeply unsettling and terrifying.
The university claimed that the student protestors made attendees feel threatened and “pushed and shoved” campus police to enter the jobs fair. This is a statement I have a hard time believing, given that a job fair is usually open to all. How would the campus police even know to block these students from entering? Was it based on their looks, the keffiyehs they wore? That itself is discriminatory and illegal.
To highlight further contradiction, Cornell’s theme for the 2023–24 academic year is Freedom of Expression. Freedom of expression was not applied for Taal, and historically has not been applied for international students or students of color. The freedoms are limited. The discriminatory practices by the university are indicative of a trend in higher education that heightens barriers to its access. It seems as though the reason Cornell made this its theme is just to make it easier for conservative pundits like Ann Coulter to come to the university and give vehemently anti-immigrant speeches, which is something that has garnered fierce opposition from students. The theme is definitely not to celebrate students like Taal or other international students and their right to peacefully protest.
To support Momodou Taal and international students facing similar threats, there are several actions that can be taken. The first would be to demand transparency and due process by writing to Cornell University administrators and local representatives, expressing that there must be a fair hearing with evidence provided for students facing multiple suspensions. In addition to this, another thing to do would be to support legal defense funds or organizations that provide aid to international students in situations like Taal’s. To raise awareness, I would encourage students to share Taal’s story on social media and advocate for international students and their right to peacefully protest. Attending demonstrations in solidarity with students facing deportation threats amplifies the issue and puts pressure on the university.
