1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

Please do everything in your power to secure the release from ICE custody of U.S. permanent resident and Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil. Mahmoud was taken from his New York apartment on March 8 by DHS agents in retaliation for his political speech on Palestinian rights. Khalil is currently being held in ICE custody and has reportedly already been moved out of New York State. His wife, a U.S. citizen, is eight months pregnant. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and of assembly, even if the executive branch doesn’t like an opinion or position. Trying to remove a legal permanent resident for his political speech violates the Constitution and is something that is normal in fascist countries, but is antithetical to the freedom and democracy the US is supposed to be based upon. Everyone in Congress needs to immediately and publicly condemn this action, call for Mahmoud's release, and do everything in their power to defend the Constitution. This is an outrage and Americans won’t stand for it.