US Judge Blocks Deportation of British Anti-Disinformation Campaigner Imran Ahmed

Federal Judge Intervenes in Deportation Threat

A United States federal judge has temporarily blocked authorities from detaining or deporting Imran Ahmed, a prominent British anti-disinformation campaigner and CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick of the Southern District of New York issued a temporary restraining order on Thursday, December 25, 2025, preventing any immediate action against Ahmed. This ruling comes after Ahmed, a 47-year-old U.S. permanent resident who lives in Washington D.C. with his American wife and daughter, filed a complaint against senior Trump administration officials.

Trump Administration's Targeting of Campaigners

Ahmed is one of five European nationals recently targeted by the Trump administration with visa bans. The administration accused these individuals of leading 'organised efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetise and suppress American viewpoints they oppose.' Officials named in Ahmed's lawsuit include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Sarah Rogers specifically stated on X that 'if you spend your career fomenting censorship of American speech, you're unwelcome on American soil,' and accused Ahmed of being a 'key collaborator with the Biden Administration's effort to weaponize the government against U.S. citizens.'

Ahmed's Legal Challenge and Background

Ahmed's lawsuit argues that the administration's actions threaten 'unconstitutional arrest, punitive detention, and expulsion' and violate his rights to free speech and due process. He stated, 'My life's work is to protect children from the dangers of unregulated social media and AI and fight the spread of antisemitism online.' This mission, he noted, has often put him at odds with powerful tech executives, including Elon Musk, whose company X (formerly Twitter) unsuccessfully sued the CCDH last year. Ahmed is believed to be the only one of the five targeted Europeans currently residing in the United States.

Broader Implications and Next Steps

The move by the Trump administration has drawn criticism from European governments, who contend that regulations and the work of monitoring groups like CCDH are crucial for making the internet safer by highlighting false information and compelling tech giants to address illegal content, including hate speech. Judge Broderick's temporary restraining order prevents officials from arresting, detaining, or transferring Ahmed before his case can be fully heard. A conference between the parties involved in the lawsuit has been scheduled for December 29, 2025.