(Washington)--The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) condemns the shocking arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia University graduate. Khalil, an anti-war Palestinian activist, was arrested by federal immigration authorities for exercising the First Amendment right to free speech and expression.
Khalil is a legal permanent resident. Media sources report that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated he will revoke the green cards of activists who support Palestine, despite having no legal authority to do so. The media has also reported an ICE agent initially said Khalil’s student visa was revoked, and then upon learning he was a legal permanent resident, told Khalil’s attorney they were acting on State Department orders to revoke Khalil’s green card.
The detention of Khalil for merely expressing his First Amendment rights is a direct assault on civil liberties, a drastic attempt to erode due process rights for immigrants, and a classic tactic from the authoritarian playbook.
The ILRC calls upon the Trump administration to immediately release Khalil from custody and return him to his home in the United States with his family.
###
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit that works with immigrants, community organizations, legal professionals, and policy makers to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Through community education programs, legal training & technical assistance, and policy development & advocacy, the ILRC works to protect and defend the fundamental rights of immigrant families and communities. Follow us at www.ilrc.org, and @the_ILRC on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and TikTok. Also follow us on Bluesky @the-ilrc.bsky.social, and on Facebook.