UK Tech Campaigner Launches Legal Challenge Against Trump Administration Over US Sanctions
British permanent resident sues US government in New York court, contesting entry ban and potential deportation tied to digital regulation dispute
A senior British tech campaigner has filed a lawsuit against the administration of President Donald Trump after being told he faces expulsion from the United States under recent visa sanctions, court documents show.
Imran Ahmed, a British national and chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, lodged his complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York this week against the US Secretary of State and other senior officials, seeking to block what he says would be an unconstitutional arrest and removal from the country.
The action follows a decision by the US State Department to bar Mr Ahmed and four other European figures from entering the US, accusing them of attempting to "coerce" American social media platforms into suppressing viewpoints they oppose.
Mr Ahmed, who holds permanent residency in the United States through a green card and lives in Washington with his American wife and daughter, has said he is "proud to call the United States my home" and is fighting to remain with his family rather than face what his lawyers describe as punitive detention.
His lawsuit names the Secretary of State, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security as defendants and alleges that the sanctions and imminent threat of removal are violations of his constitutional rights.
The sanctions, announced at the end of last week, were framed by the US government as part of efforts to push back against foreign influence on American digital platforms, with officials alleging that the targeted individuals pressured US-based firms over content moderation and regulation.
Mr Ahmed’s organization, which focuses on combating online hate speech and disinformation, has been a prominent voice in campaigns scrutinising the practices of major platforms, including X. The visa restrictions also affect other Europeans active in digital regulation and research.
In response to the lawsuit, a federal judge has issued a temporary order preventing Mr Ahmed’s arrest or detention pending further hearings on the matter, which are scheduled for early next week.
The case has drawn international attention, with the European Union and several member states condemning the travel bans and asserting their commitment to defend regulatory autonomy.
Mr Ahmed has maintained that his work protecting children and vulnerable groups from harmful online content should not be grounds for sanction or expulsion, declaring that he will defend his rights and continue his advocacy from within the United States.
Imran Ahmed, a British national and chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, lodged his complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York this week against the US Secretary of State and other senior officials, seeking to block what he says would be an unconstitutional arrest and removal from the country.
The action follows a decision by the US State Department to bar Mr Ahmed and four other European figures from entering the US, accusing them of attempting to "coerce" American social media platforms into suppressing viewpoints they oppose.
Mr Ahmed, who holds permanent residency in the United States through a green card and lives in Washington with his American wife and daughter, has said he is "proud to call the United States my home" and is fighting to remain with his family rather than face what his lawyers describe as punitive detention.
His lawsuit names the Secretary of State, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security as defendants and alleges that the sanctions and imminent threat of removal are violations of his constitutional rights.
The sanctions, announced at the end of last week, were framed by the US government as part of efforts to push back against foreign influence on American digital platforms, with officials alleging that the targeted individuals pressured US-based firms over content moderation and regulation.
Mr Ahmed’s organization, which focuses on combating online hate speech and disinformation, has been a prominent voice in campaigns scrutinising the practices of major platforms, including X. The visa restrictions also affect other Europeans active in digital regulation and research.
In response to the lawsuit, a federal judge has issued a temporary order preventing Mr Ahmed’s arrest or detention pending further hearings on the matter, which are scheduled for early next week.
The case has drawn international attention, with the European Union and several member states condemning the travel bans and asserting their commitment to defend regulatory autonomy.
Mr Ahmed has maintained that his work protecting children and vulnerable groups from harmful online content should not be grounds for sanction or expulsion, declaring that he will defend his rights and continue his advocacy from within the United States.
