1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The arrest of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil at Columbia University is an alarming escalation of the Trump administration's crackdown on student activism and a concerning violation of constitutional rights. As a permanent resident and graduate student, Khalil should be afforded the full protections of the First Amendment. Detaining him without due process for his role in campus protests against the Gaza war is a blatant attack on free speech. We must safeguard the rights of all individuals to voice dissent peacefully, regardless of their backgrounds or political views. The precedent set by this retaliatory arrest poses a grave threat to civil liberties on university campuses nationwide. I urge you to condemn this injustice and take immediate action to secure Khalil's release and reinstate his legal residency status. Upholding constitutional principles of free expression is paramount to preserving our democratic values.