US judge blocks detention of British social media activist

A US judge has temporarily blocked the detention of British social media activist Imran Ahmed, who has filed a lawsuit against the US government for revoking his visa.

The founder of the Center for Countering Digital Hate was among five people were denied US visas after the Trump administration accused them of seeking to “coerce” tech platforms into censoring free speech.

The move sparked a backlash from European leaders defending the work of organizations monitoring online content.

Mr. Ahmed, a permanent resident of the United States, had warned that his detention and possible deportation would tear him away from his American wife and child. Welcoming the judge’s decision, he told BBC News he would not be “intimidated”.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said online that the individuals were blocked because they feared they had organized efforts to pressure US platforms to censor and “punish American views they oppose“.

Mr. Ahmed filed a lawsuit Wednesday against officials, including Rubio and U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, over the decision to sanction him.

In court documents seen by the BBC, US District Judge Vernon S Broderick said on Thursday he had granted Mr Ahmed’s request for a temporary restraining order.

The judge also temporarily blocked officials from detaining Mr. Ahmed without his case being heard.

The BBC has contacted the State Department and the White House for comment.

Asked by the AFP news agency, a State Department spokesperson was quoted as saying: “The Supreme Court and Congress have repeatedly said clearly: The United States has no obligation to allow foreigners to come to or reside in our country.”

Mr Ahmed said: “I will not be distracted from my life’s work of protecting children from the harm of social media and ending anti-Semitism online. »

His lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, said the speed of the judge’s decision was telling.

“The federal government cannot deport a green card holder like Imran Ahmed, with an American wife and young child, simply because they don’t like what he has to say,” she said.

In 2023, Mr. Ahmed’s center was sued by Elon Musk’s social media company after reporting an increase in hate speech on the platform since the billionaire bought the company, now called X.

The case was dismissed but an appeal is pending.