1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's arrest and attempted deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident, for his pro-Palestine advocacy is a blatant assault on free speech that should alarm all Americans. By detaining Mr. Khalil without any criminal charges solely because of his political views, the government is engaging in the sort of repression more commonly associated with authoritarian regimes. This is a clear violation of the First Amendment's protections for freedom of expression. Attempting to revoke Mr. Khalil's green card and deport him from the country he calls home, simply because the administration disagrees with his activism, sets a dangerous precedent that threatens to chill dissent across the nation. If the government can punish Mr. Khalil for his beliefs today, it can go after any other critics tomorrow. Dissenting views are the lifeblood of a healthy democracy – not grounds for retaliation by the state. Mr. Khalil must be immediately released from detention and allowed to return to his family in New York. The courts must firmly reject this unconstitutional overreach by the executive branch against a private citizen's fundamental rights. Failing to do so would enable this and future administrations to suppress disfavored speech through intimidation and the misuse of lawful processes like immigration enforcement. We cannot allow such a precedent to stand if we value our liberties.