1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am highly concerned about the recent reports of hundreds of foreign students having their visas revoked by the Trump administration. Revoking visas for peacefully exercising free speech rights is an alarming violation of civil liberties and Constitutional protections. The arrests and detainments of students like Rumeysa Ozturk and Mahmoud Khalil solely for their pro-Palestinian activism sets a dangerous precedent that threatens academic freedom and our democratic values. This crackdown appears to be a politically-motivated effort to silence dissent on campuses under the guise of combating antisemitism, which is an odious mischaracterization of human rights advocacy. Deporting law-abiding students without due process is a draconian overreach of executive power that must be forcefully opposed. I urge you to take concrete actions to rein in this administration's authoritarian impulses, defend the rights of protesters, and prevent further erosion of constitutional liberties. Our system of checks and balances exists to curtail such abuses by the executive branch. Please use your oversight powers to investigate these disturbing incidents and take all necessary steps to uphold America's core principles of free speech and democracy. This situation demands a decisive, multifaceted response to curb Rubio's reckless disregard for fundamental rights and the rule of law.