Speak out for our First Amendment rights

As your constituent, I urge you to condemn the unconscionable and unconstitutional detentions of Mahmoud Khalil, Rümeysa Öztürk, Badar Khan Suri, and so many others – and defend our right to freedom of speech from further attacks by the government. The First Amendment does not allow the government to retaliate against anyone for their speech, regardless of their immigration status or viewpoint. No one should fear being snatched from their family and threatened with deportation in retaliation for exercising their constitutional right to protest. This is the most extreme threat to free speech since the Red Scare. Rounding up dissidents is the hallmark of dictatorships and has no place in a free society. Dissent is not grounds for deportation. The Trump administration is abusing immigration law and violating our right to free speech – and we must act immediately to stop it. Congress must condemn the Trump administration's attacks on the First Amendment, protect students from arrests and detentions on the basis of their speech, and defend our constitutional right to dissent. The time to act is now.