Federal Judge Rules Trump Cabinet Secretaries Conspired to Violate Constitution

U.S. District Judge William Young, a Reagan appointee, ruled that Trump administration officials engaged in an "unconstitutional conspiracy" to violate the First Amendment. During a hearing on the detention and deportation of pro-Palestinian activists, Judge Young accused Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of conspiring to deprive people of their constitutional rights. The judge described the violations as "breathtaking" and criticized what he called the administration's "fearful approach" to freedom of speech, stating they were attempting to "pick off certain people" who disagreed with them. Young announced he would issue a protective order to prevent retaliation against academics challenging the detentions, and characterized Trump as an "authoritarian" who was not honoring the First Amendment. The ruling came in response to deportation cases involving non-citizen academics and activists expressing pro-Palestinian views.

“Cabinet secretaries and, ostensibly, the president, were not honoring the First Amendment... an unconstitutional conspiracy to pick off certain people.” — U.S. District Judge William Young's statement during a hearing on the detention and deportation of pro-Palestinian activists, directly accusing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of constitutional violations.