A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from arresting or deporting Imran Ahmed, the CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate. According to reports, Ahmed is one of five researchers and regulators whose work focuses on online abuse and disinformation. Their efforts drew the ire of the U.S. State Department, which declared this week that they are barred from the United States.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the targeted individuals as radical activists and weaponized NGOs. He stated they have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose.
While Ahmed was born in the United Kingdom, he holds a U.S. green card, resides in the United States, and has an American wife and child. Ahmed defended his work in a recent interview, describing the government’s move as another example of large companies using their money and influence to evade responsibility in politics. He specifically mentioned companies like Meta, OpenAI, and Elon Musk’s X.
A separate lawsuit filed by X against the Center for Countering Digital Hate was dismissed last year, though an appeal in that case remains pending.