Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia University graduate student active in the struggle against the Israeli oppression of Palestine, was unjustly arrested by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Saturday night. Shortly after this arrest, Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted about deporting foreign-born student protesters, threatening to revoke the student visa and green cards of any such protesters. 

Mahmoud Khalil holds a green card and by law cannot be deported or deprived of his green card for political activity; and in fact, all people on U.S. soil are protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution and are supposed to be guaranteed freedom of speech and political association. Additionally, it is illegal to deprive someone of their green card for political activity or speech. As of Sunday night, his lawyer and his wife, who is a U.S. citizen, still did not know where Mahmoud was being held. They have now learned he was sent to an ICE detention camp in Louisiana.

The stakes in this are very high and no one can afford to stand aside. Even taking the government assertions on their face, Mahmoud has committed no crime—at most, he has voiced opinions that this administration does not like. This blatantly illegal arrest and keeping his whereabouts secret is nothing less than a political kidnapping. It is imperative that campuses—and all of society—ring out with the demand to Free Mahmoud Khalil! And to drop any and all charges.

Mahmoud Khalil is of Palestinian heritage, born in a refugee camp in Syria and holding Algerian citizenship. He received his master’s degree from the Columbia University School of International Affairs. He participated—often as a negotiator—in the righteous movement on campuses across the country and worldwide against the genocide going on in Gaza, perpetrated by Israel with U.S. financing and military backing. Five points:

1. This is a heinous attack on Mahmoud Khalil for the “crime” of expressing an opinion in America that goes beyond the bounds of what this fascist regime will tolerate. No. No! No!!! Where does this STOP?
2. This is an attack on the campus movement to stop the U.S.-Israeli genocide in Gaza at a time when Trump himself has openly threatened to eject Gazans from their homeland and turn Gaza into a casino resort. He most recently said that all Palestinians in Gaza would be dead if the Israeli hostages were not turned over immediately. These are open threats of genocide and ethnic cleansing—and where is the outcry?!? Now they are going after individuals who dared to express opposition, beginning with the most vulnerable. No. No! No!!! Where does this STOP?
3. This is an attack on the legal right of all immigrants to express themselves. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution applies to everyone on U.S. soil—and that Amendment is supposed to guarantee freedom of expression. Now they are declaring that expressing opinions that run afoul of this administration is grounds for denying constitutionally guaranteed rights to immigrants. No. No! No!!! Where does it STOP?
4. This is part of an overall attack on the universities and academic freedom. The Trump/MAGA fascist administration has made clear in documents like Project 2025 and through their actions that they intend to drive what they deem to be even liberal viewpoints out of the universities and to crush those campus protesters who raise demands or even undertake activities not to MAGA’s liking. No. No! No!!! Where does it STOP?
5. The implications of this political kidnapping are not confined to the campuses or to immigrants. This is an assault on the political life of all of society, this is fascism moving in earnest, and has to be seen and responded to as such. This is piece by piece dissent being criminalized and the right to speech being bludgeoned. No. No! No!!! Where does it STOP—if it does not STOP here? 

It only STOPS when we dare to stop it, when we dare to stand on principle and humanity—and challenge others to do the same. It only STOPS when we grow to the millions and say “NO! In the name of humanity, refuse to accept a fascist America!”

FREE MAHMOUD KHALIL IMMEDIATELY!

STOP THE ATTACKS ON THE UNIVERSITIES!

IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY, WE REFUSE TO ACCEPT A FASCIST AMERICA!

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If you are in NYC, come to Revolution Books to talk about this at 437 Malcolm X Blvd (at 132nd Street) in Harlem.