In a brazen but unsurprising follow through by the federal government to begin targeting activists who publicly speak out against the administration, Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate, campus organizer, and leader, and Algerian citizen of Palestinian descent, was arrested in New York and subsequently disappeared into the dystopian maze that is the United States immigration detention system. There are currently unverified claims that Mr. Khalil is now being held in immigration detention somewhere in Louisiana. Moving a detainee whose arrest is clearly threat and warning to other activists far away from their familial and legal support team is a fear-inducing strategy the U.S. has long utilized.

On Saturday, March 8, 2025, plain-clothed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents approached Mahmoud Khalil and his wife while returning to their university residence from an outing. According to information from Mahmoud’s family, DHS forced their way inside the Khalil household as Mahmoud and his wife entered, and then seized Mahmoud and arrested him. The DHS agents then informed Mr. Khalil and his family that Mr. Khalil’s student visa had been revoked. When Mr. Khalil explained that he in fact was not attending Columbia University on a student visa, but instead was a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (holding a Green Card), DHS agents made a call and then informed Mr. Khalil that his Green Card had been revoked. When Mr. Khalil’s attorney subsequently called the arresting DHS Agents and asked to see the warrant attached to the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil, they immediately hung up on her. (Note from Lauren: the fact that ICE agents appeared to not have even bothered to look up Khalil’s immigration status, and just assumed he was here on a student visa, demonstrates the ignorance and laziness of our adversaries. Don’t overestimate the evil-doers!!)

In a stunning example of turning a political activist into a “terrorist,” Trump said this in addressing the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil: “We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country–never to return again. If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here. We expect every one of America’s Colleges and Universities to comply.”

It should be a surprise to no one that the current administration has decided that any First Amendment-protected support for Palestinian rights, as well as an end to the genocide, fictitiously equates not only to direct support of Hamas, but also to antisemitic speech and action. The labeling of activists or dissenters as terrorists or “un-American,” and thus deserving of state-sanctioned retribution is one of the oldest and darkest political cudgels in the playbook.

Clearly, the Trump authoritarian regime believes they are the final arbiter in deciding who does or does not fit their view of “undesirables” in the United States. The executive branch seems to have conveniently forgotten that in the case of Mr. Kahlil, who waits in a detention cell for a court hearing, only an immigration judge that has the legal authority to revoke a legal resident’s green card.

Civil liberties are again in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. The arrest of Mr. Khalil is certainly an early test of fundamental constitutional rights under a regime that pays no deference to the constitution and separation of powers. The question remains: what further underhanded tactics will the current White House and bent knee agencies deploy when they decide political activists from all corners of the movement, U.S. or foreign born, have become “undesirable?”

Please continue to stand with CLDC and become a supporter and vocal advocate for our civil liberties. We are currently living through a moment where the right to dissent and oppose dangerous authoritarianism faces one of the strongest attacks in generations.

Post Script: On Monday, a federal judge said Khalil will remain in the U.S. as the court weighs a challenge to his planned deportation, as President Donald Trump says his arrest will be the first of many. (The Guardian, 3/10/2025)