1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident, for his advocacy in support of Palestinian rights is an egregious violation of the First Amendment. Mr. Khalil has been unjustly targeted and incarcerated solely for exercising his constitutionally protected right to free speech and peaceful protest. This is a blatant attempt to silence dissent and set a dangerous precedent for suppressing political viewpoints the government dislikes. The administration has invoked a vague and rarely-used provision of immigration law to revoke Mr. Khalil's green card, despite him not being charged with or accused of any crime. He is being punished simply for organizing protests and serving as a lead negotiator for solidarity efforts at Columbia University. This weaponization of the law against protected speech represents a severe overreach of government authority and a direct assault on civil liberties. As Mr. Khalil's legal team has powerfully argued, his detention defies due process and tramples on fundamental constitutional guarantees of free expression. To allow this injustice would strike a devastating blow against core democratic principles our nation claims to uphold. I urge you to call for Mahmoud Khalil's immediate release from unlawful detention. His continued incarceration is an unconscionable violation of his rights as both a green card holder and an advocate speaking out on issues of public concern. Dissent is not a crime, and this blatant retaliation against Mr. Khalil's political views cannot stand. Protect free speech and restore justice by demanding his freedom.