Summary
A federal judge blocked the removal of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil from the U.S. after his arrest by ICE.
Khalil, a Columbia University graduate who helped organize pro-Palestinian protests, was arrested Saturday by ICE agents who claimed his visa was revoked for supporting Hamas.
The Trump administration continues to claim he violated an executive order prohibiting anti-Semitism, though no evidence was provided. Protesters in NYC demand his release, calling the arrest unconstitutional.
His location remains unclear. The ACLU and immigrant rights groups argue the detention violates free speech, warning it sets a dangerous precedent.
Definitely illegal, and definitely a test balloon for what types of executive authority they can get away with.
They chose Khalil specifically because of the subject of his protesting - they might get a handful of judges that allow this abuse because of the near-universal bipartisan support for Israel.
Whether or not this sticks will be an indicator on how far the US slips into fascism, and I’m certainly hopeful this gets reversed quickly.
Reminder: The Bill of Rights (where we get the 1st Amendment) applies to all persons living and residing in the United States. Not just citizens.
The meaning of the word “terrorist” has become meaningless after being abused by governments like the US for decades. It’s now just a rhetorical key they turn to justify fascist actions like this arrest.
To be clear, this man could’ve been lifting “I love Hamas” signs and his arrest would still be unconstitutional. Don’t let them make this an “antisemitism” problem.
I have a fake/throwaway account on X and thought I’d check the vibe there. I was shocked how the majority of Trump supporters were arguing that constitutional rights only apply to US citizens.
Their level of confidence in being ignorant is just…wow. Scary.
In addition to ignorance, Khalil had legal citizenship which makes him a US citizen ☠️. So much for “we love immigrants as long as they’re legal”!
Agree with you ofc, just want to add how ironic it is that supporting Arabs (who are Semites) is antisemitic but nazis who are explicitly anti-Jewish are not…but ofc the fash and doublespeak.
The Trump administration continues to claim he violated an executive order prohibiting anti-Semitism
I know the answer is no, and to be clear the answer is no, but does that mean you can finally get rid of the literal neo-Nazi movements now?
Antisemitism is only when leftists and brown people.
Unfortunately this is not limited to the US. Israel has employed the same strategy of shaping policies allegedly protecting Jews against antisemitism in that way. In Germany they did the same, where a recent parliament resolution mentioned crticising Israel at the Berlinale 2024 an antisemitic act, while a Neonazi trying to storm into a synagogue and murder Jews on a Jewish holiday a few years back in Halle was not even mentioned.
It is a tool to downplay actual antisemitism, because nazis are often down for the idea of a fascist ethnostate, while it is used to attack leftists and non white people, as those are often opposed to such a state.
You’ve got to check your card.
because nazis are often down for the idea of a fascist ethnostate
There’s a very striking historical picture of a Nation of Islam summit in the US (while Malcolm X was still a member), and in the audience, front and center, is the American Nazi Party leader George Lincoln Rockwell, flanked by two other members with armbands and everything. Rockwell was there because, despite the obvious ideological tensions, both groups ultimately saw common cause on separatism.
Zionism benefits from making Jewish people feel that they are unwelcome outside of the Zionist ethnostate. Nazis want Jewish people to be gone, and them leaving for the Zionist Regime is a realistic and legal option for them. Real antisemitism benefits both these horrible movements.
Literal white supremacists with tiki torches shouting “Jews will not replace us!”? Proud Boys beating people in the streets? Patriot Front marching with Nazi flags?
Definitely not anti-Semitic!
But students calling for the end of apartheid and genocide of an ethnic group being tortured and exterminated on their native land?
Definitely anti-Semitic!
This is an open and shut case: he had his 1st Amendment rights taken away and the ICE agents have violated the Constitution. Therefore, all agents involved must be punished to the letter of the law, no leeway or amnesty. Full stop.
Therefore, all agents involved must be punished to the letter of the law, no leeway or amnesty. Full stop.
Must? Who’s going to make them? Rules and laws alone don’t matter, and really never have.
Us. At this point, we have no real choice.
At this point, only democrats with guns can stop MAGA, but they’re all unable or unwilling. So fuck them.
Judge Jesse M. Furman said Khalil is to remain in the U.S. “to preserve the court’s jurisdiction” as the court weighs a filing challenging his arrest and planned deportation. A hearing was scheduled for Wednesday at federal court in New York City.
Who wants to be they will deport him anyway? “oopsie, we all make mistakes, right?”
They aren’t going to deport him, they ate going to put him in Guantanamo as I believe he does not have the same legal protections there.
I think?
It’s less about legal protections and more about logistical. It’s pretty damn hard for lawyers and the press to visit someone in gitmo.
I believe he does not have the same legal protections there. I think?
That’s what been claimed, but it’s been tyrannical unconstitutional bullshit since 2001.
Well Isreal did… Ironic
He would not have those rights but Im not sure how they decide who goes there. This man’s wife and newborn are in the USA.
There are no objective criteria any more. They want him gone, he goes. By the time the court rules it’s illegal, he’ll already be in Guantanamo.
Fuck the fascist GOP
I agree, but people need to acknowledge that this is a Democratic Party project as well.
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He is not a citizen. He had a green card which the administration revoked. Green cards cannot be revoked without cause and Khalil did not break a law. They could deport him if he was advocating for an organization that is an enemy of the US (terrorist organizations, enemy nations, etc) or if he committed a felony. Trump did sign an EO basically saying that anti Semitism on campuses is illegal. So the administration will have to prove that his protests were anti Semitic. Unfortunately I could definitely see the courts allowing the administration to interpret their own EO and ignoring the fact that it violates constitutional rights.
Edit: I forgot that there was an EO from Trump’s last administration that targeted anti Semitism which changes his outlook. The Supreme Court does everything it can to have narrow rulings despite clear constitutional issues with some executive orders. If it makes it there, I see them supporting deportation.
Executive orders can’t make things illegal. They’re not royal proclamations, they’re just guidance to executive agencies.
They’ll just say that being pro-Palestine is the same thing as advocating for HAMAS, revoke his green card, and send him away.
I think they will shoot for the anti Semitism angle. They have already started he was detained due to Trump’s EOs. They could more easily argue that rather than having to say being against Palestinian genocide is somehow advocating for Hamas. I anal but that seems like the easier move to me.
Either way, I don’t see it ending well for him which is really shitty and shows how much our basic rights are just a shallow façade.
Thank you for clarifying and the additional info! I guess deleted comments might not have federated, I originally meant to reply to tal.
