UK University Faces Legal Action Over Trump-Like Deportation Tactics

(LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM) Legal action has been launched against King’s College London, with campaign groups accusing the university of using “Trump-like deportation tactics” to curb pro-Palestine activism on campus.

The case centers on Usama Ghanem, an international relations student who was indefinitely suspended after taking part in several pro-Palestine demonstrations. These included protests over the university’s financial ties to Israeli institutions and arms companies. His suspension, confirmed by advocates and his lawyers, triggered a process that could lead to the loss of his student visa and potential deportation to Egypt — the country he previously fled due to persecution and torture for political dissent.

As of October 23, 2025, a judicial review is underway in the UK courts, seeking to overturn the suspension and block any move that could force him out of the country.

Campaigners’ allegations and reactions

CAGE International, the UK-based advocacy group supporting Ghanem’s legal challenge, has condemned the university’s approach as a form of repression targeted at a student for his speech and peaceful action.

• In a public statement CAGE described King’s College London’s conduct as “repression lifted directly from Trump’s mass campaign of expulsion, arrest, and deportation—simply for exercising free speech.”
• The “Trump-like” label references policies under President Trump in the United States, where campaigners say international students involved in pro-Palestine activism faced visa pressure, revocations, and removals based on political speech even when not charged with crimes.

Ghanem’s legal team argues the suspension is both disproportionate and dangerous, because it places an international student who fled harm at risk of being removed to a country where he fears renewed abuse.

“The suspension places an international student who fled harm at risk of being removed to a country where he fears renewed abuse.” — summary of legal argument

The judicial review asks the court to assess whether the university acted lawfully, fairly, and in line with its duties to protect student welfare and free expression. It also asks the court to consider the serious immigration stakes that follow disciplinary action against students on visas. There is no final ruling yet; court proceedings remain active.

Legal and immigration stakes

• Judicial review filed: Ghanem’s lawyers have asked the UK courts to overturn the university suspension and to prevent any immigration steps that could lead to deportation.
• Status as of October 23, 2025: No final decision has been reported; the judicial review remains in progress.
• Advocacy support: CAGE International is backing the case and condemns the university’s tactics as modeled on the U.S. approach under President Trump to silence student dissent linked to Palestine solidarity.

Lawyers observing the case say the proceedings will likely clarify the boundaries between campus discipline and immigration control. Two potential outcomes are highlighted:

1. If the court finds fault with the university’s approach:
   • It may set limits on how institutions consider immigration impacts when they sanction students over protests.
   • Universities may be required to factor in welfare and immigration consequences before imposing suspensions.
2. If the university prevails:
   • Critics warn it could validate the use of disciplinary channels to trigger visa crises.
   • That could have long-term effects on international enrollment and academic freedom.

Wider campus and policy context

The legal challenge has drawn attention beyond campus because it tests how university discipline can intersect with immigration control. Student suspensions can, in practice, trigger contact with immigration authorities due to visa sponsorship rules. Critics argue that makes academic sanctions carry life-changing consequences for foreign students.

• Supporters of Ghanem say the threat of deportation is being used as a tool to punish pro-Palestine activism, sending a warning to other international students who consider joining protests.
• According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, cases like this can reshape how universities decide when and how to sanction students whose activism is protected speech in many contexts, especially when those students hold visas that depend on continued enrollment.

The case comes amid a broader wave of pro-Palestine activism across UK campuses in 2025. Administrators have faced pressure from donors, partners, and lawmakers to respond to protests that target funding links and research relationships. Students, in turn, demand transparency about investments and ties to companies connected to the conflict.

Within this tense environment, international students often carry added risk. A suspension or expulsion can quickly become an immigration emergency, creating a two-tier reality:

• Domestic students face academic penalties.
• International students face potential visa revocation and deportation.

Relevant precedent: Dana Abu Qamar (2024)

The campaign has been further fueled by a recent court decision involving another student activist.

• In 2024, an immigration and asylum tribunal in Manchester ruled that the UK Home Office’s attempt to deport Palestinian student Dana Abu Qamar after she joined pro-Palestine protests was unlawful.
• The tribunal found that revoking her visa on the claim that her presence was “not conducive to the public good” was not legally justified.

That ruling is now cited by advocates in Ghanem’s case, who say it offers a meaningful reference point for any student facing immigration action tied to peaceful protest.

King’s College London’s position and transparency concerns

King’s College London has not publicly released a full account of the internal proceedings that led to Ghanem’s suspension.

Campaigners argue:

• The process lacked transparency and failed to account for the direct immigration consequences tied to suspension decisions.
• The action has a chilling effect: students on visas may feel forced to choose between their right to peaceful assembly and their ability to stay enrolled and lawfully present in the country.

While the university’s wider disciplinary policies allow for suspensions in certain cases, the core question is whether those powers are being used, directly or indirectly, to silence a political message rather than address specific misconduct.

Implications for universities and students

At King’s College London, the implications stretch beyond one case. The university hosts a large international student body and a diverse academic community.

Possible institutional effects depending on the court outcome:

• A ruling that the suspension was unlawful could:
  • Force changes to how disciplinary panels weigh immigration risks and student welfare.
  • Influence training for staff and how institutions communicate with students about protest rights.
• A ruling that upholds the suspension may:
  • Embolden other universities to pursue similar actions, especially where protests challenge financial partnerships or research links.

Campaigners linking current events to policies under President Trump emphasize this point:

• Immigration processes should not be turned into tools for speech control.
• If the practice spreads, it could silence a vulnerable part of the academic community and harm universities’ core mission.

Administrators, however, point to their duty to keep campuses safe and orderly. The court’s decision will have to weigh these competing claims within the legal frame set by the UK’s rules and recent tribunal outcomes.

Home Office role and practical risks

The Home Office is not a direct party to the university’s disciplinary decision, but it is an essential actor in any downstream immigration action.

• If a student is suspended, their enrollment status can change, which may lead to fresh scrutiny of their right to stay.
• Legal groups tracking the case warn that this chain reaction can turn an internal campus process into a gateway to removal, especially where students cannot immediately secure a remedy.
• They argue universities must take special care when dealing with students who have past records of persecution or trauma in their home countries, such as Ghanem.

Practical guidance for students

For students, parents, and staff seeking official background on visas, the UK government’s guidance on the Student route is published on GOV.UK. Readers can consult the Student visa page for authoritative information on eligibility and general conditions:

• Student visa

While the current court action concerns a specific disciplinary decision at King’s College London, advocates say the link between discipline and visa status means international students should be aware of the risks that can follow from any interruption to their course.

Summary and current status

• The case of Usama Ghanem remains unresolved.
• His suspension stands while his legal challenge continues.
• The risk of deportation remains central to the dispute.
• As the judicial review unfolds, students and staff at King’s College London — and across the country — will be watching for clearer lines on:
  • Where protest ends,
  • Where discipline begins,
  • How far immigration consequences can reach when the two collide.