A federal judge on Dec. 25 temporarily barred U.S. officials from detaining Imran Ahmed after he sued over an entry ban the government links to alleged online censorship. The restraining order stops arrest, detention or transfer until a court hearing and sets a conference for Dec. 29. Ahmed, a 47-year-old legal permanent resident and CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, says the move threatens to separate him from his U.S. citizen wife and child; European governments criticized the visa bans as harmful to efforts that make the internet safer.
U.S. Judge Temporarily Blocks Detention of Imran Ahmed, Halting Deportation Threat
FILE PHOTO: U.S. flag and Judge gavel are seen in this illustration taken, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
WASHINGTON, Dec 25 — A U.S. federal judge on Thursday issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump administration from arresting, detaining or transferring Imran Ahmed, a British-born legal permanent resident and CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). The order follows a lawsuit Ahmed filed in the Southern District of New York challenging visa restrictions and an entry ban the government links to alleged online censorship.
Court Order and Next Steps
U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick granted the temporary restraining order, enjoining officials from taking enforcement action against Ahmed until his claims can be heard. The court scheduled a conference between the parties for December 29 to determine next procedural steps.
What the Government Says
The U.S. government announced visa restrictions earlier in the week on Ahmed and four other Europeans, including former EU commissioner Thierry Breton, saying the measures target individuals it alleges have worked to censor speech or unfairly burden U.S. technology companies with onerous regulation. A State Department spokesperson reiterated the administration’s position that the United States is under no obligation to admit or allow foreign nationals to reside in the country.
Ahmed's Response and Personal Stakes
Ahmed, 47, who lives in New York and leads the U.S.-based CCDH, sued after reporting fears of imminent deportation that could separate him from his wife and child, both U.S. citizens. In a statement provided by his representative he praised the U.S. legal system and said he would continue his work.
"I will not be bullied away from my life’s work of fighting to keep children safe from social media’s harm and stopping antisemitism online," Ahmed said in the statement.
Reaction And Context
European governments criticized the visa restrictions, arguing that regulators and independent monitoring groups play an important role in exposing falsehoods and pressuring technology platforms to address illegal content such as hate speech and child sexual abuse material. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment.
Related Immigration Cases
The case follows other high-profile immigration enforcement actions this year. For example, Mahmoud Khalil — detained after pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University — was released by a judge who found that punishing someone over a civil immigration matter could raise constitutional concerns. Khalil faces separate deportation proceedings that remain subject to appeals and court orders.
