Palestine Legal, a US civil rights organisation defending pro-Palestinian speech, recorded 1,131 requests for legal assistance in 2025 — roughly 300% above its annual average prior to October 2023, when Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following Hamas attacks. Though down from a peak of 2,184 requests in 2024, the figures reflect continued pressure on activists, with the majority of 2025 cases involving university and school students facing suspensions or campus bans over Palestine-related advocacy. The group also reported a spike in immigration-related inquiries following the Trump administration's executive order targeting pro-Palestinian student activists and high-profile detentions of foreign nationals, warning that legal harassment — even when ultimately unsuccessful — is designed to produce a chilling effect on free expression.