A US federal judge has temporarily barred the Trump administration from detaining or deporting British social media campaigner Imran Ahmed, halting an effort to revoke the residency of a prominent critic accused of pressuring technology companies to censor American voices.
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US District Judge Vernon S. Broderick granted a temporary restraining order on Thursday, preventing federal authorities from taking any action against Ahmed without a hearing while his legal challenge moves forward. The order follows a lawsuit filed by Ahmed against Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pamela Bondi over sanctions imposed on him.
🚨BREAKING: U.S. State Dept responds to UK censorship operative Imran Ahmed’s blocked entry:
“The Supreme Court and Congress have repeatedly made clear: the United States is under no obligation to allow foreign aliens to come to our country or reside here.” (Reuters)… pic.twitter.com/7tRDuBWhZ4
— Sayer Ji (@sayerjigmi) December 26, 2025
Ahmed is the founder of the Center for Countering Digital Hate and a US permanent resident. His complaint challenges a State Department decision to block visas for him and four others, accusing them of attempting to “coerce” social media platforms into restricting free speech in the United States.
In a statement, Ahmed rejected the allegations and said he would continue his work. “I will not be bullied away from my life’s work of fighting to keep children safe from social media’s harm and stopping antisemitism online,” he said.
Defending the administration’s move, Rubio said the individuals targeted were involved in efforts to pressure US-based platforms to censor and “punish American viewpoints they oppose”. The sanctions have drawn criticism from European leaders, who argue the measures target organisations focused on combating online hate speech and disinformation.
Ahmed, who lives in the United States with his American wife and young child, told the court that deportation would forcibly separate him from his family. His lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, said the ruling highlighted the weakness of the government’s case.
“The federal government can’t deport a green card holder simply because it doesn’t like what he has to say,” Kaplan said.
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The State Department and the White House did not immediately comment, though a spokesperson said the US retains broad authority over entry decisions.