Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University, was arrested by US immigration officials on the weekend despite having a permanent residence. His crime was participating in the Palestinian protests on his alma meter.
According to Zeto News Representative Prem Thakar, US immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents forced himself to go to the building -owned apartment building by Khalil’s university when he and his eight -month -old pregnant wife were still operating. Officials initially told Khalil that his student visa was being canceled and learned that he was a green card holder, adding that the government had also canceled his green card.
One and i Video Thakur called for the Trump administration’s attempt to detain Khalil “clumsy and Hafsard”.
He said that these agents forced themselves into the apartment building, not necessarily introducing themselves, demanded to see their identity. […] The administration does not know exactly that the way to justify this extremely unpleasant, unilateral move and is trying to appeal to President Trump’s executive orders rather than things like the Constitution.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Sunday confirmed the arrest of Khalil, claiming that it had led the “activities associated with Hamas”, and that the DHS proceedings were taken with the Department of State. “
Khalil, a Palestinian -born Algerian citizen, was allegedly at the forefront of Palestinian protests and led camps in Colombia, which spread rapidly to universities all over the United States. The demonstration protested Israel’s devastating crimes in Gaza.
President Donald Trump recently inaugurated and tried to dissolve any differences with his views, threatening that Khalil’s arrest was not the last.
He promised his social media platform, the truth, on social social, “This is the first arrest of many people.”
“We know that there are more students in Colombia and other universities across the country who are engaged in supporters, pro, anti -US, anti -US activity, and the Trump administration will not tolerate it,” Trump said.
Temporary halt
When the Trump administration is moving towards Khalil quickly, which has allegedly moved to the southern state of Louisiana, a federal judge on Monday ordered authorities to stop the proceedings.
Order, viewed by AFPIn a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, a Judge like Judge of New York District, New York District, was also demanded.
According to ReutersJudge Farman holds his exile “until the court orders the order.”
Khalil’s lawyers also urged Farman to order Khalil to return to New York. He accused the government of sending Khalil away from New York and trying to lose access to legal advice.
‘A kidnapping’
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemned Khalil’s arrest, calling it “extraordinary, illegal and non -American”.
“The government’s actions are clearly threatening and cooling speeches,” Ben Wesner, director of the Privacy and Technology Project, said in a statement.
On Monday afternoon, more than a thousand protesters gathered in New York to express their anger over Khalil’s arrest.
Toby, 42, said, “It was primarily kidnapping,” which refused to give his last name for fear of retaliation.
“It seems that there is a clear target of workers, which is really, really dangerous,” he said.
“This is a disappointing moment in American history. We should not be a step and the dictatorial path, “Michael Thay said, one of the 50 professors who expressed their concern at a press conference on Monday.
The arrest also indicated a scream from the United Nations, saying with a spokesman for Secretary General Antonio Guterres, “It is very important to identify the importance of freedom of expression and the importance of respecting the right of a peaceful assembly everywhere.”
‘It is not a crime to protest genocide’
Immediately after the news came out, social media users, including American politicians, became enraged by the arrest of Khalil and provoked plans to deport people in protest against Trump’s atrocities in Gaza.
He also highlighted that the move was against the first amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees basic freedoms, including freedom of expression, assembly and religion.
Congress woman Rashida Talib went to X (formerly Twitter) and said that the arrest of Khalil was “straightforward from the fascist playbook.
“Claiming disagreement is an attack on our first amendment and freedom of speech. It is illegal to cancel one’s green card for expressing their political opinion. It is not a crime to protest genocide.
US Representative Alan Omar described the move as “grossly provocative”, “non -American” and called for Khalil’s release.
“For more than a constitutional speech, the first amendment of Mahmoud Khalil’s forced disappearance is a clear attack on a clear attack and dictatorship.”
US actor Cynthia Nixon said, “Neither Trump nor DHS has the power to combine one’s green card, especially not to exercise the right to free speech, a right in the Constitution. The DHS should immediately release Mahmoud Khalil!”
Another social media user called for Khalil’s independence, highlighting that his detention and deportation threat violated his first amendment rights.
“It is illegal and unconstitutional. Every American, whether you stand with the Palestinian purpose, should protest this injustice.
An X -user said that Khalil is the first political prisoner of Trump, adding that Judaism was not such a crime because, “In the United States, you are allowed to think or say anything about your choice.
“And they have no evidence that he was a victim of enmity. He was arrested for criticizing Israel.
“Because the free speech party did not like his free speech – she was kidnapped and ready for deportation despite” claiming megas “, a Netzen said.
‘After you’
In an Instagram video, supermodel Gigi and Bella Hadid’s sister Alana Hadid said, “They can take you right now, no charge, no trial, no explanation, now is over. If you think it may not be in the United States, I remind you that it is already available.
He said in the list how Japanese Americans were surrounded and put in camps, black civil rights leaders were hunted and killed, Muslims were spied, detained and disappeared after 9/11, and now they were Palestinians.
Alana emphasized that Khalil was a legal permanent resident but “he did not stop the DHS from catching him, threatened his pregnant wife and took her without any charge.
“His wife urged them to explain, their lawyers demanded answers, and why they hanged. Because they do not need to explain, because they know that no one can stop them. It is like that. They test the water, they go behind the people who have no idea what they have, then they have no idea.
An X -user said that Khalil was leading a violent protest and was taken without trial despite being a permanent resident with an eight -month pregnant wife.
If we all do not work to overthrow it and end it, you will eventually not work after you after you. It doesn’t matter who you are. “
The president of the project Liberal, Joshua Red Ekal, highlighted that Khalil was not an illegal resident, nor was he a terrorist, and the DHS still “snatched him from the campus, disappeared without any clue”.
“No compensation. No test. Just gone Thus the authoritarian governments run. This is the same when the first amendment only applies to people of ‘right’ type – this is just a test balloon for a broader crackdown on speech.
“If they can do this with Khalil, they can do this with you.”
Another X user wrote, “Everyone should scream from the roofs demanding the release of Mahmud Khalil. No one is safe in a nation where you can disappear for protest.
“It will not end with immigrants on green cards. This is a system test. Soon, they will find a way to come to your com.
A social media user said that Khalil’s arrest was aimed at making it an example and scared others to talk about Palestine.
We should never talk about Palestine. Because they wouldn’t like anything better.
“Mahmud Khalil protested against the US government to kill his people,” said an X user.
“Abduction of her at night, removing her from her pregnant wife and refusing to share her position is an attack on a free speech and a clear fascism.”
Jamie Bran, CEO of the Progressive Movement, turned the arc: Jewish action, said, “I know in my bones as an American Jew that when the government starts kidnapping legal residents, they do not agree with and I know when they are claiming to be a Jewish safety.”
Talking to the press in front of the University of Columbia, he said that if the Trump administration really cares about the Jewish people or wants to end enmity, it will maintain their freedom to speak, study and stand for their beliefs.
“The abduction of Mahmud Khalil and the tearing of his family is a competition for freedom and security for all of us. The Jewish people were greatly added.
“This is a clear example of how this administration uses a cigarette screen to threaten, accuse and ban people as a cigarette screen. Kidnapping Mahmud does nothing to secure Jews. In fact, it is another way to use mega administration.
‘Shalom, Mahmud’
For the White House, formal social media announced the arrest of Khalil in the handle and the statement of Trump’s statement, which opened a tweet with ‘Shalom, Mahmud’.
Shalom is a Hebrew word used by Jewish people as a salam in relation to meeting or separation, which means ‘peace’. However, as they do everything, the Trump administration’s statement does not indicate peace.
In an Instagram video, Alana told the poststate propaganda in real time. He said, “Similarly, the white of persecution is washed. Thus they change a Palestinian worker, who was literally kidnapped to resist the genocide, in a symbol for many forces trying to silence it.
“It is an old tactic like colonialism, first they erase our history, then they eliminate the struggle and if it does not work, they re -offer it to their agenda service. What you see is that this government is checking the water that they can rewrite the truth.
An Instagram user questioned that when the Hebrew became the official language of the White House, he added that he usually posts only in English.
Using a Hebrew word, which works as the official language of Israel, the Trump administration has made it clear what aspects they are supporting. It was a deliberate move, which has taken the position of the US president – and was actively taken to highlight, as long as Israel existed. Trump is not adopting a neutral approach to the Palestinian situation, his social media and disgusting comments are enough to tell the world whether it is Israel or has been thrust for it.
Meanwhile, with a crackdown with no straight, white, Christian man, the mega administration begins a new achievement. Added The Sox Monitor Watch List is threatening to threaten civil liberties under Trump.
“In 2025, the new administration reduced federal funds for organizations, eliminating USAID, eliminating USAID, and changing progress on justice, inclusion and diversity,” said Susos, the international non -profit on civil rights.
The organization added that Trump’s unprecedented executive orders were “designed for opening democratic institutions, rule of law and global cooperation.”
Khalil’s arrest also sets a dangerous view for the students of the students. For now, it seems, no one is really safe from Trump -powered ice and DHS, especially those who are on temporary visas and green cards. To put it in context, green card holders usually do not occur Exile Except for some conditions, including criminal treatment or violation of immigration law. On the other hand, Khalil was protesting peacefully against his people against oppression.
What is even more promoted to this issue is that the Trump administration does not protect citizens or legal residents under the US Constitution and its first amendment.
Extra input from AFP
