A federal judge in New York has intervened to prevent the deportation of Imran Ahmed, the CEO of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), after the U.S. State Department announced sanctions against him and four other European individuals. These sanctions were based on accusations of orchestrating campaigns to suppress American viewpoints through censorship.

On December 25, Judge Vernon S. Broderick of the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a temporary restraining order against several high-ranking officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pam Bondi, prohibiting them from detaining Ahmed.

Ahmed, a British citizen of Afghan descent, holds a Green Card and resides in the United States. He was among five individuals sanctioned by the State Department, which cited their involvement in efforts to coerce American platforms into censoring content they oppose. The CCDH has been noted for its attempts to deplatform conservative media outlets, including Breitbart News, and has expressed intentions to target social media platforms like Twitter following changes in their content moderation policies.

Under Secretary of State Sarah B. Rogers stated that individuals who promote censorship of American speech are not welcome in the country. However, Ahmed successfully argued that his deportation would violate constitutional protections related to freedom of speech. His attorney, Roberta Kaplan, emphasized the unconstitutionality of the actions taken against him, highlighting the importance of protecting individuals who combat hate speech and online harm.

Ahmed expressed his commitment to his work in safeguarding children from social media dangers and combating antisemitism, asserting that the legal system is designed to prevent abuses of power. The State Department has reiterated that the U.S. is not obligated to allow foreign nationals to reside in the country, reflecting ongoing tensions regarding immigration and free speech rights.