1. United States
2. Ga.
3. Letter

The mass detention of immigrant students and scholars for their political views is a grave violation of fundamental freedoms. Many, like Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk, have been unjustly imprisoned at remote facilities in Louisiana, far from their communities and legal support. This Kafkaesque situation chills free speech and amounts to political persecution under the guise of immigration enforcement. By shuttling detainees across the country to isolated jails, authorities are obstructing due process and denying them a fair opportunity to challenge their cases. This heavy-handed crackdown on campus activism signals an erosion of civil liberties that should alarm all who value open discourse and dissent in a democratic society. I urge you to take immediate action to release these detainees, restore their legal rights, and halt this disturbing campaign of repression against students and scholars expressing their political views. Upholding constitutional protections for freedom of speech and assembly must be prioritized over such draconian immigration tactics. The unlawful detention of peaceful dissenters violates American values and undermines faith in our institutions.