The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has partnered with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) in filing an amicus brief to support the Stanford Daily Publishing Corporation in its legal battle against the Trump administration’s visa and deportation policies, which raise concerns regarding First Amendment rights for non-citizens.
The Stanford Daily Publishing Corporation, responsible for the publication of Stanford University’s student newspaper, initiated the lawsuit in August against Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. The suit challenges certain provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, specifically those that allow for the revocation of visas and the deportation of non-citizens. A notable case cited in the suit involves Rümeysa Öztürk, a PhD student at Tufts University, whose visa was annulled following the publication of an op-ed she co-authored, leading to her six-week detention.
The amicus brief argues that non-citizen journalists play a crucial role in reporting significant public issues. Subjecting them to the threat of visa revocation and removal based on their journalistic activities creates a discouraging environment for foreign reporters, potentially leading them to avoid covering controversial subjects that could attract scrutiny from immigration authorities. This, in turn, risks imposing unlawful restrictions on free speech and the critical function of newsgathering.
The support of organizations like CPJ highlights the ongoing challenges faced by journalists in maintaining the freedom to report without fear of reprisal. As such, this case underscores the importance of safeguarding the rights of all journalists, regardless of their citizenship status, in promoting transparency and accountability in the media landscape.