Abstract:
A resolution calling on Cornell University to protect graduate student worker Momodou Taal by formally rescinding University statements currently being used to fund the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) declaration. We urge the University to act swiftly, as Taal’s case will set a precedent for repression against other international students who exercise their First Amendment rights through protest.
Sponsored by:Sowad Ocean Karim,GPSA President; SIPS Community Advocacy
Whereas, the Graduate Student Worker Momodou Taal is a Black, Muslim, international student who was temporarily suspended on the grounds of alleged participation in both the spring 2024 encampment on the arts quad and a disruption of the presence of L3Harris Technologies and Boeing in the Career Fair carried out in Statler Hall on September 18th, 2024;
Whereas, HSI identified Taal based on “open-source records” that detail his alleged involvement in activities at Cornell University that were perceived as disruptive, including protests of the ongoing Palestinian genocide. The allegations in these records led HSI to determine that Taal's conduct thus fell under the scope of the Executive Order. As a result, HSI referred the case to the Department of State, which moved to revoke Taal's visa;
Whereas, the declaration further explains the justification behind HSI's involvement, detailing their assessment of the situation as aligned with the Executive Order's aims. It also indicates that Taal is expected to surrender to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in compliance with the legal proceedings following his visa revocation;
Whereas, as a coalition of Jewish Cornellians have authored a letter rejecting the claim that Momodou has created a “hostile environment” for Jewish students on campus;
Whereas,through another letter, the broader Cornell community, including graduate and professional students, undergraduate students, and community members, has made a swift and concerted effort to express deep concern that language from a Cornell disciplinary process that is still under investigation is being wielded by the defendants in the case Momodou Taal et al. v. Donald J. Trump;
Whereas, this letter has been signed on by organizations including but not limited to: The Progressives at Cornell, Graduate Labor Organization, Grads for Palestine, Young Democratic Socialists of America at Cornell, SIPS community advocacy, and Advancing Science and Policy. The number of groups and individuals signing on to this letter in under 24 hours of its creation highlights a deep concern felt by the Cornell community;
Whereas, this assembly, the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GPSA), has established that the content of the protests Taal engaged in is especially relevant to the interests of the Cornell Graduate and professional student body;
Whereas, Resolution 7 from 04/22/2024 establishes the GPSA’s duty to engage in items of importance to the graduate and professional student body and that the University and its investments are of interest to the student body;
Whereas,Resolution 1 from 09/05/2024 opened the GPSA to officially appoint at least one permanent representative to the Ad Hoc Committee on Cornell University's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies created by the undergraduate Student Assembly, showing a commitment from the graduate and professional student body;
Whereas,Resolution 8 from 05/06/2024 on ESG recommendations on discussion of divestment from companies engaged in weapon manufacturing resolved to recommend that the University Administration, the Trustees, and the CSR-ESG Committee engage in immediate (Summer 2024) and formal discussions centered on the issue of divestment from the companies BAE Systems, Boeing, Elbit Systems, General Dynamics, L3Harris Technologies, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, and ThyssenKrupp engaged in weapons manufacturing;
Whereas, the Student Assembly Referendum showed a majority (4,960/7,153 votes) in support of the following question: “Cornell has investments in companies supporting the ongoing war in Gaza, which has been deemed as a “plausible genocide” by the International Court of Justice in South Africa v. Israel. Should Cornell University follow their 2016 Guidelines for Divestment and divest from the following weapons manufacturers: BAE Systems, Boeing, Elbit Systems, General Dynamics, L3Harris Technologies, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, and ThyssenKrupp?”;
Whereas, the GPSA has moved forward with the addition of a ballot question for the 2025-2026 Academic Year elections that echoes the sentiment of the Student Assembly Referendum showing continued concern by the Graduate and Professional Community on matters concerning this topic;
Whereas, a statement from Black students at Cornell has asserted disillusionment about racialized rhetoric from the administration, stating, “There is no evidence that Taal has engaged in any violent activity”;
Whereas, concern has been raised about the Cornell administration’s heavy-handed tactics to suppress dissent;
Whereas, Cornell’s Expressive Activity Policy, used for the aforementioned discipline procedures, has also been criticized and disapproved of by GPSA Resolution 6;
Whereas, the March 6, 2025 Student Assembly Resolution 37 and March 24th, 2025 proposed GPSA Resolution 10 state, “Cornell University should actively be intent on protecting undocumented, DACA, international, refugee, and other immigrants within the Cornell community to the fullest extent [through]... reaffirming its commitment to protecting student records”;
Whereas, evidence for the claim made in DEFENDANTS’ OPPOSITION TO MOTION FOR PRELIMINIARY INJUNCTION AND TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER filed pursuant to Momodou Taal et al. v. Donald J. Trump that graduate student worker Momodou Taal constitutes a "disruptive," "hostile" "alien” is not substantiated as it is founded on allegations made by CUPD under Student Code of Conduct Procedures that are not subject to due process or held to any legal standard;
Whereas, Resolution 10 from 3/24/2025 establishes there have been several notable incidents involving the deportation of immigrant students, actions targeting immigration lawyers, and use of war time laws for deportation: Georgetown University researcher detained, Columbia University’s Mahmoud Khalil and attempted deportation, Cornell University’s Momodou Taal told to surrender to ICE,38 actions against immigration lawyers, and use of Alien Enemies Act for deportations. These incidents highlight the increasing challenges faced by immigrant students and the legal professionals advocating on their behalf.
Be it therefore resolved, we recommend that the University Administration issue a statement clarifying the factual limitations of any records emanating from ongoing Student Code of Conduct Procedures, specifically that “the Rules of Civil Procedure nor Rules of Evidence apply to these Procedures” and that these records are not suitable to be used as evidence of fact, especially not before the Procedure has been completed.
Be it finally resolved, we recommend that because Momodou Taal has not been subjected to any criminal charges and his disciplinary processes did not lead to a revocation of his visa, the University Administration repeal actions that are being used by the current administration's decision to revoke his visa.
