Boston: In a significant ruling, a US judge declared that attempts by the administration of President Donald Trump to target foreign students solely for their support of Palestinians and criticism of the Israeli regime violated the Constitution, according to Qatar’s Al Jazeera TV network. Judge William Young of the Boston district court criticized Trump’s policies as a serious threat to free speech, advocating for academic associations that accused the president of infringing upon the First Amendment, which protects fundamental freedoms.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Young emphasized that this case, possibly the most important the court has faced, raises a crucial constitutional question: whether foreign individuals legally present in the US enjoy the same free speech rights as American citizens. He affirmed that the court unequivocally answers this question in the affirmative, stating that these individuals are indeed entitled to such rights.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to Fox News, asserted that entry into the US is a privilege, not a right, for those who respect American laws and values. He expressed concerns over foreign students allegedly engaging in anti-Semitic activities during protests following Israel’s bombardment of Gaza after October 7, 2023.

Rubio claimed that some students disrupted university activities and threatened American students, particularly those of Jewish descent, underscoring the Trump administration’s commitment to curbing such actions on college campuses.