A federal judge in California has ruled that the U.S. government unconstitutionally silenced critics of Israel and others by threatening deportation, according to a decision released Friday. The ruling largely supports a previous finding by a U.S. district judge in Boston.
U.S. District Judge Noël Wise stated that the freedoms of speech and the press are foundational to American democracy. She cited First and Fifth Amendment violations due to free-speech and vagueness flaws in the provisions the federal government used to deport noncitizens who disrupted college campuses while expressing their views.
Wise specifically mentioned the government's actions in March 2025 against individuals supporting Palestinians and criticizing Israel's actions. She also cited retaliation against those critical of Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, following his assassination last September.
"Tomorrow, or perhaps even today, targets may include anyone in the United States who exercises their freedom of speech to simply express opinions the government does not like," Wise wrote. "This downward spiral is antithetical to our Constitution that recognizes our right to speak freely."
The lawsuit was brought by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Conor Fitzpatrick, an attorney with the organization, praised the ruling, stating, "In America, free speech doesn’t just belong to the people who say things the government agrees with."
The Justice Department had not responded to a request for comment on the decision as of Saturday.