On Saturday, Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia University graduate, was arrested by federal immigration authorities. Khalil is a Palestinian activist who helped organize campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war. Despite having a green card, making him a legal resident, Khalil is currently being detained in an immigration facility and facing possible deportation. Trump said Khalil’s arrest is “the first arrest of many to come,” adding, “If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here. We expect every one of America's Colleges and Universities to comply.”
The arrest comes amidst ongoing tensions between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel student groups on college campuses across the US. The situation in Gaza continues to be volatile, with frequent conflicts between Hamas and Israeli forces. Israel recently cut off electricity and clean drinking water to Gaza due to stagnancy in hostage negotiations.
Voices on both the left and right discussed the legality of the situation as well as the moral and ethical implications. Though the left is largely not in favor of Khalil’s deportation, voices on the right are divided.
A writer at The Dispatch (Lean Right bias) said, “I can understand being ambivalent in that conflict given the sleaziness of Khalil’s cause, but I can’t understand concluding that the side with state authority, unlimited resources, and autocratic ambitions is the lesser evil. If you’re willing to assume the administration’s good intentions in this matter simply because you despise the Hamasniks, you’re still missing the forest for the trees.”
Ken Klippenstein (Lean Left bias) wrote, “I’m not a lawyer, but the law seems pretty clear that a green card holder can only be deported if they violate rules relating to their status, conduct a serious crime, or commit espionage, terrorism, or pose a ‘threat’ to ‘national security.’ That’s a huge and vague category, national security. An accusation of being anti-American and posing a threat to national security can be levied against even citizens who are exercising their first Amendment rights. That’s what could be next.”
A writer for Townhall (Right bias) argued, “Reasonable people can debate whether it is fair and reasonable to pull Khalil's green card and send him packing. But reasonable people should admit the reality that Khalil is an ‘insurrectionist.’ He is a ‘radical’ and an ‘extremist.’ He embraces the murder of innocent civilians in the pursuit of ‘liberation.’ He's not a kinder, gentler protester.”
Vox (Left bias) published a piece stating, “Expressing opposition to the war in Gaza is protected by the First Amendment so long as it does not involve criminal conduct. And even if the speaker is accused of criminal conduct, they have the right to a fair hearing and due process…Khalil does not appear to have been afforded those legal protections. And if he is being punished for merely expressing support for Palestinians alone, then there is no telling where the Trump administration will draw the line in targeting political dissent — especially among immigrants, but also among American citizens.”