A federal judge in California has ruled that the Trump administration cannot deport noncitizen students for criticizing Israel or expressing support for Palestinians, citing protections under the First Amendment.

Axar.az reports, citing CBS News, that Judge Noel Wise issued the ruling Friday in a case brought by The Stanford Daily, the student newspaper at Stanford University.

Wise said the government's policies had created a chilling effect on protected speech and struck down portions of the rules used in deportation proceedings, finding that they violated First Amendment free-speech protections and Fifth Amendment requirements.

"Freedom of speech is illusory if we are only 'free' to express complementary views about the government and its leaders," Wise wrote.

The judge said the government had sent noncitizen students a message that criticizing Israel or supporting Palestinians could result in their visas being revoked and their deportation.

At The Stanford Daily, some lawfully present noncitizen students quit, withheld articles, refused assignments, requested stories be removed or sought anonymity because of fears over their immigration status, Wise said.

The ruling largely follows a decision by a federal judge in Boston nearly a year ago that found the Trump administration had violated the Constitution by targeting noncitizens for deportation solely because of their support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel.

The Justice Department did not immediately comment on the ruling.

Wise stressed that noncitizens are also protected by the First Amendment, saying people have the right to express views that may challenge prevailing political norms or the government's domestic or foreign policy.