Free Speech

Florida Students Punished for Silent Protest Against ICE Get Free Speech Victory in Federal Court

A federal judge sided with the Florida International University students who sued over their school's student expression policy. 

Meagan O'Rourke | 8.26.2026 3:41 PM

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(Photo: TheFIREorg/X)

A group of Florida students returning to college may have scored a temporary free speech win, but their legal battle may not be over. 

On Sunday, a federal judge ruled that Florida International University (FIU) likely violated students' free speech rights when the school punished students for silently protesting indoors, reported Axios. In her ruling, U.S. Southern District of Florida Judge Jacqueline Becerra issued a preliminary injunction, preventing the school from enforcing its expressive activity rule against the students. 

The case stems from an incident in March when a group of students wearing shirts saying "ICE OFF FIU" stood in silence for "a few minutes" while the school's president hosted a talk with........

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