1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am writing to demand that activist Mahmoud Khalil be released from DHS detention immediately. This significant deviation from normal immigration proceedings comes in the wake of increased and abnormal scrutiny concerning the actions of students alleged to hold pro-Palestine views. Axios recently reported that the State Department, Department of Justice, and DHS were launching a “Catch and Revoke” effort to identify alleged pro-Palestinian activists based on artificial intelligence screening of social media. An activist familiar with Khalil’s solidarity work said, “Mahmoud is foundational to our community. The state has escalated its repression of students for opposing the U.S.-backed genocide in Palestine, in which all American universities are complicit. However, the students will continue to rally for Palestine and against state violence.” Detaining activists and students for their constitutional right to protected protest violates the first amendment and is a threat to all people of conscience. ICE must immediately release Mahmoud Khalil from detention. Thank you.