1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist at Columbia University, over his involvement in campus protests is an alarming infringement on free speech rights guaranteed by the Constitution. While the government claims he supported Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, he has not been charged with any crime. Detaining a lawful permanent resident without due process for expressing dissenting views is a dangerous overreach that threatens fundamental civil liberties. I urge you to speak out against this retaliatory action and uphold the First Amendment protections that are a cornerstone of our democracy. Unchecked authority to deport individuals based solely on their political views could have chilling effects on peaceful protest and open discourse across the nation.