I am writing to demand the immediate release of student activist Mahmoud Khalil from DHS detention and to urge you to defend the First Amendment rights of students facing political repression.
Criticizing Israel and exposing its war crimes is not antisemitic. Peaceful protests against Israel’s atrocities are not an endorsement of Hamas. Yet, across the country, students speaking out against genocide in Gaza are being smeared, doxxed, and subjected to government retaliation.
Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and recent graduate student at Columbia University, was arrested by DHS on March 8 in a highly irregular immigration enforcement action. DHS claimed his green card had been revoked without due process. His detention is part of a disturbing crackdown on pro-Palestine activism. Recent reports confirm that the State Department, Department of Justice, and DHS have launched a “Catch and Revoke” effort—using artificial intelligence to scan social media and target individuals for their political beliefs. This is an unconstitutional abuse of power.
Khalil has been a visible and vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, serving as a lead negotiator in Columbia’s Gaza Solidarity Encampment and speaking out in press conferences and interviews. For this, he has been subjected to smear campaigns by Zionist organizations like Canary Mission, which seek to silence pro-Palestine voices through intimidation and blacklisting.
An activist familiar with Khalil’s work said:
“Mahmoud is foundational to our community. The state has escalated its repression of students for opposing the U.S.-backed genocide in Palestine, in which all American universities are complicit. However, the students will continue to rally for Palestine and against state violence.”
The arrest of a student for his activism is a blatant violation of the First Amendment and sets a dangerous precedent for political repression in the U.S. The government must not use immigration enforcement as a tool to punish dissent.
I urge you to demand Mahmoud Khalil’s immediate release and to publicly oppose the silencing of students advocating for Palestinian rights. Free speech must be protected—without exception.
First sent on March 11 by BlueCollarJew
