1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

The attempted deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist and former Columbia University student, is an egregious violation of free speech rights. As a legal permanent US resident, he should not face retaliation or deportation for peacefully exercising his constitutional right to protest. The Trump administration's actions appear to be politically motivated targeting of pro-Palestinian voices on college campuses under the guise of cracking down on "un-American activities." There is no evidence that Khalil provided any material support to terrorist organizations. He served as a mediator during the 2024 Gaza war protests at Columbia, aiming to facilitate dialogue between students and the administration. Deporting Khalil for his involvement in these demonstrations would set a dangerous precedent of suppressing civil dissent and student activism. Free speech is a fundamental American value that must be vigorously protected, even for views the government may disagree with. I urge you to speak out against this outrageous overreach by the Trump administration and take action to stop Khalil's deportation proceedings. Failing to do so will enable further curtailing of cherished First Amendment rights on college campuses across the nation. We cannot allow the government to arbitrarily revoke the legal status of those it deems ideological adversaries. Khalil must be released from detention immediately and allowed to remain in the country.