1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to demand that Mahmoud Khalil be released from DHS detention immediately. This unconstitutional detention is disgraceful. Regardless of your perspective on the prostests in support of Palestine, the detention of an individual simply for exercising his first amendment rights should chill you to the bone. For the power of the State to be used to retaliate against this man signals that the same fate will before more and more of us. If you do not stand up for his rights, you will soon see more cases using the Department of Homeland Security to threaten, harass, and subdue those who vocalize their opposition to this government. This is unacceptable. Do your job! Stand up for our rights! Protect free speech, even when you don’t personally agree with the speech. Do not let this erosion of civil rights go unchallenged!