Judge: Trump cannot deport researchers solely for content moderation work

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg has granted a preliminary injunction that halts the State Department from enforcing a policy implemented during the Trump administration. This policy aimed to revoke green cards and deport non-U.S. citizens working in fields such as misinformation, disinformation, fact-checking, content moderation, compliance, and trust and safety.

The ruling, issued Tuesday, is a significant victory for the Coalition for Independent Technology Research (CITR), which sued to reverse the controversial visa-restriction policy. The lawsuit argued that the policy was being used to target researchers and undermined academic and free speech principles.

While the policy's text did not explicitly mandate visa denials or deportations, it authorized immigration investigations into individuals suspected of assisting foreign adversaries in manipulating public opinion by suppressing U.S. speech. The judge's decision prevents the enforcement of this policy until the CITR's lawsuit is fully resolved, effectively blocking potential deportations based on this criteria.

This legal battle highlights concerns about how immigration policies can impact researchers and professionals in critical technology sectors. The outcome of the full lawsuit could set important precedents regarding the boundaries of government policy in regulating speech and research within the U.S.