1. United States
2. Ga.
3. Letter

The attempted deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and recent graduate of Columbia University, is a severe violation of constitutional rights and an alarming escalation of authoritarian tactics by the current administration. Khalil was forcibly taken from his home without a warrant and detained by ICE officers, despite having a valid green card. This blatant disregard for due process and abuse of power to silence dissent cannot be tolerated in a free society. Khalil's only apparent "crime" was participating in peaceful protests against human rights violations in Gaza while a student at Columbia. Equating such activism with terrorism and using it as a pretext to revoke visas and green cards sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the fundamental freedoms of speech, assembly and political expression for all Americans. If the government can unilaterally disappear individuals for their beliefs or political views, none of us are truly safe from unjust persecution. This is a critical moment to take a stand against the rising tides of authoritarianism and fascism. The unlawful detention of Khalil represents a deeply disturbing overreach of executive power that cannot be allowed to go unchallenged. We must demand Khalil's immediate release, the restoration of his legal residency status, and accountability for those responsible for violating his constitutional protections. Complacency in the face of such injustice only enables further erosion of civil liberties and democratic norms. We have a duty to resist this authoritarian takeover and fight to preserve the rights and freedoms that define the nation.