A US judge has temporarily blocked the detention of British social media campaigner Imran Ahmed, who took legal action against the US government over having his visa removed.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate founder was among five individuals denied US visas after the Trump administration accused them of seeking to coerce tech platforms into censoring free speech.
The move brought a backlash from European leaders defending the work of organizations monitoring online content.
Mr. Ahmed, a US permanent resident, had warned that being detained and possibly deported would tear him away from his American wife and child. Praising the judge's decision, he stated he would not be bullied.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that those affected were blocked due to concerns they organized efforts to pressure US platforms to censor and punish opposing viewpoints.
Ahmed filed a legal complaint against Rubio and US Attorney General Pamela Bondi regarding the sanctions against him. US District Judge Vernon S. Broderick granted Ahmed's request for a temporary restraining order, affording him the opportunity to contest the government's actions.
The State Department has commented that the Supreme Court and Congress have made clear the US is under no obligation to allow foreign nationals to reside in the country.
Ahmed expressed his determination to continue advocating against social media's harmful effects and antisemitism. His lawyer emphasized the illegitimacy of deporting a green card holder for exercising his rights to free speech.
In a notable recent event, Mr. Ahmed's center was sued by Elon Musk's social media platform after it highlighted a surge in hate speech post-takeover, though the case was dismissed with an appeal pending.
