ICE arrests Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University protests(apnews.com)
apnews.com
ICE arrests Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University protests
https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-mahmoud-khalil-ice-15014bcbb921f21a9f704d5acdcae7a8
35 comments
As with a lot of the rest of what’s going on: there was a right way to (try to) do this, and the truly alarming part isn’t that they tried (that could amount to a policy disagreement, and that’s why we have systems for resolving that stuff) but that they’re going about it blatantly illegally, like, not even credibly attempting to follow the law.
They’re doing that because they need to move fast for this whole project to work. They haven’t captured so much of the government that they won’t get bogged down if they do it the right way. They need momentum and progress rolling into April 20th (due date for the “should I invoke the insurrection act?” reports Trump ordered to be created—takes time to get the wrong people out of the way so orders to send the military into “sanctuary cities” to enforce immigration law won’t be resisted, so they couldn’t do it immediately; and they may just use the threat of it, backed by the reports, to get cities to do the Feds’ jobs for them on the cities’ dime, I guess that’s the “if we’re lucky” outcome)
They’re doing that because they need to move fast for this whole project to work. They haven’t captured so much of the government that they won’t get bogged down if they do it the right way. They need momentum and progress rolling into April 20th (due date for the “should I invoke the insurrection act?” reports Trump ordered to be created—takes time to get the wrong people out of the way so orders to send the military into “sanctuary cities” to enforce immigration law won’t be resisted, so they couldn’t do it immediately; and they may just use the threat of it, backed by the reports, to get cities to do the Feds’ jobs for them on the cities’ dime, I guess that’s the “if we’re lucky” outcome)
This is one of those things that has a lot of bipartisan support.
The IHRA definition of antisemitism, which they've adopted, circumscribes speech that is critical of Israel, even if true, as antisemitism.
That type of hate speech legislation isn't usually applied to states but is fairly bilaterally supported in American politicians fever dreams.
Unfortunately, none of this is acceptable so long as the first constitutional amendment stands.
The IHRA definition of antisemitism, which they've adopted, circumscribes speech that is critical of Israel, even if true, as antisemitism.
That type of hate speech legislation isn't usually applied to states but is fairly bilaterally supported in American politicians fever dreams.
Unfortunately, none of this is acceptable so long as the first constitutional amendment stands.
Could you expand on where the April 20th date comes from?
An executive order issued January 20th.
> (b) Within 90 days of the date of this proclamation, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a joint report to the President about the conditions at the southern border of the United States and any recommendations regarding additional actions that may be necessary to obtain complete operational control of the southern border, including whether to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807.
April 20th is 90 days out from that (though it could come sooner, and it may already have—the report won’t necessarily be public, as many such reports aren’t and shouldn’t be).
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/decl...
[edit] “this proclamation” here means the EO itself, or rather, the parts of it that declare a state of emergency “at the southern border”. Emergency powers are also how he’s levying tariffs without Congress.
> (b) Within 90 days of the date of this proclamation, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a joint report to the President about the conditions at the southern border of the United States and any recommendations regarding additional actions that may be necessary to obtain complete operational control of the southern border, including whether to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807.
April 20th is 90 days out from that (though it could come sooner, and it may already have—the report won’t necessarily be public, as many such reports aren’t and shouldn’t be).
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/decl...
[edit] “this proclamation” here means the EO itself, or rather, the parts of it that declare a state of emergency “at the southern border”. Emergency powers are also how he’s levying tariffs without Congress.
It doesn't really look like this administration is super concerned with following the law or doing things "the right way" or whether something is blatantly illegal. Who is going to stop them?
OgsyedIE(2)
If green card holders/permanent residents don't have the ability to engage in constitutionally protected speech, doesn't this create a perverse incentive given that it creates a class of lawful residents that have circumscribed speech?
I haven't seen a lot of legal pushback on this stuff as opposed to a lot of the other stuff that has been injuncted.
I haven't seen a lot of legal pushback on this stuff as opposed to a lot of the other stuff that has been injuncted.
Logically this could never work.
The US immigration system doesn’t allow supporters of the Nazi regime, for example. There is a direct question in the citizenship form - “Have you ever been a member of a group such as…”.
The Supreme Court generally allows exceptions to Constitution rights if the government can’t implement an otherwise legal law that the government is entitled to implement - like screening immigrants.
The US immigration system doesn’t allow supporters of the Nazi regime, for example. There is a direct question in the citizenship form - “Have you ever been a member of a group such as…”.
The Supreme Court generally allows exceptions to Constitution rights if the government can’t implement an otherwise legal law that the government is entitled to implement - like screening immigrants.
How long should the screening process be?
You seem to assert it's indefinite, which is clearly not constitutional.
You seem to assert it's indefinite, which is clearly not constitutional.
While a guest in someone's house one should endeavor not to be divisive and cause problems. It's a good way to be uninvited.
Maybe that's the reason for the wait on citizenship.
Maybe that's the reason for the wait on citizenship.
Until they have citizenship?
Until you are a citizen.
Until that time, you are an immigrant with temporary permission to reside in the US.
Until that time, you are an immigrant with temporary permission to reside in the US.
Just as when Kenneth Walker was summarily denied his constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms, and the neofascists cheered it on. Lofty American ideals like natural rights don't actually matter to them - the harm is the point.
But at least Joe Biden got the message of what we thought about his Israel policies!
But at least Joe Biden got the message of what we thought about his Israel policies!
Regardless of politics there's no way this is constitutionally defensible.
It feels like the perverse incentive is the goal. After all, if only American citizens retain the right to protest certain policies they don't like, they have a strong incentive to have less American citizens.
It feels like the perverse incentive is the goal. After all, if only American citizens retain the right to protest certain policies they don't like, they have a strong incentive to have less American citizens.
What do you mean by "constitutionally defensible" ? Like how many IBC totes of ink the Subservient Court is going to spill writing a tortured justification for this particular plain infringement of our natural rights?
Legalities aside, I don’t get the logic of engaging political protests while on a foreign visa. No one is forcing you to live in the country you hate so much.
Protesting isn't about hating your country, it's free speech and a form of political expression.
He is accused of supporting hamas and antisemitism, and there is ample evidence of his organization doing that in spades, calling for armed resistance and death of zionists. So, no, not just protesting. Lets be clear about the facts.
He’s not on a visa. He’s a green card holder.
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gnabgib(1)
1) No one is arguing that Khalil is or was in the US illegally or without documentation.
2) He is in the US as a permanent resident with a green card and has a pregnant American wife.
3) Neither his wife nor lawyer have been told why he was arrested or where he is currently being held.
4) When his wife tried to visit him in New Jersey after his arrest, she was told he had been moved, possibly to Louisiana.
5) Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration “will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.”