1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

The Department of Homeland Security's detention of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident, is a blatant violation of civil liberties and an attack on free speech. Khalil's activism in support of Palestinian rights should be celebrated, not criminalized. His arrest appears to be part of a broader campaign to intimidate pro-Palestinian voices on college campuses across the country. This unjust targeting of Arab and Muslim students must end immediately. I urge you to take action to secure Mahmoud Khalil's prompt release from custody and prevent further reprisals against those exercising their constitutional rights to protest and advocate for human rights causes. Columbia's acquiescence to federal overreach and outside partisan pressure has enabled this disturbing situation. Protecting students' rights to voice dissent and organize freely is imperative for upholding democratic values on campus.