Capitol News

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition of 20 state attorneys general in submitting an amicus brief in the case of Stanford Daily Publishing Corporation v. Rubio, currently before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The brief supports The Stanford Daily, an independent student-run newspaper at Stanford University, in its lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s “Ideological Deportation Policy.”

The policy stems from two executive orders issued by President Trump in January 2025 (Executive Orders 14161 and 14188), which direct federal agencies to investigate, detain, and deport noncitizen students and faculty who engage in political speech contrary to the administration’s views. The Stanford Daily filed suit in August 2025 against Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem after international student journalists reportedly declined assignments, removed their bylines, or resigned due to concerns that their reporting could lead to deportation.

“Taking away student visas because of someone's political opinions is an embarrassing and unconstitutional stance for this administration to take,” Nessel said. “Michigan is home to dozens of incredible colleges and universities that attract students and faculty from across the world. Actions like this don’t just silence debate on campus – they threaten everyone's First Amendment rights by discouraging open discussion and the exchange of ideas. I join my colleagues in urging the Court to uphold the right to freedom of speech.”

In their filing, Nessel and her counterparts argue that using ideology as grounds for immigration enforcement threatens economic growth, stability, public health, safety, and states’ ability to attract global talent needed for key industries. They maintain that such actions violate First Amendment protections.

A recent ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in American Association of University Professors v. Rubio determined that First Amendment protections extend equally to citizens and lawfully present noncitizens.

Nessel was joined on this brief by attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington State and the District of Columbia.