The California Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), along with the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC), and more than 120 organizations representing community organizers, labor unions, social and legal service providers, faith leaders, and immigration and civil rights organizations, recently sent a joint letter to more than 50 California legislators urging them to take action regarding Mahmoud Khalil’s unjust arrest.
On Saturday, March 8, Khalil—a Columbia University graduate student and a lawful permanent resident of Palestinian origin—was arrested by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) outside his university-owned apartment in New York without any criminal charges. The arresting agents claimed they were acting on a State Department order to revoke his student visa. After Khalil’s lawyer informed DHS agents that he is a green card holder, agents still proceeded to detain him. Khalil served as a negotiator between students protesting Israel’s genocide in Gaza and Columbia University administration.
The joint letter calls on California elected officials to demand Khalil’s immediate release and reaffirm their commitment to protecting civil liberties and rights by issuing a public statement denouncing the Trump administration’s pledge to detain and deport lawful permanent residents and students without due process.
The letter also demands that elected officials call for an investigation into reports of a “Catch and Revoke” program using artificial intelligence to review tens of thousands of student visa holders’ social media accounts for content that is critical of Israel.
Signatories to the letter include Service Employees International Union California, National Immigration Law Center, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, and the California Faculty Association.
Khalil is not the only student to be targeted by the Trump administration for their pro-Palestinian activism. Yunseo Chung, also a Columbia University student and lawful permanent resident, is suing the administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for reportedly attempting to detain her for participating in a protest on campus in support of Palestinian human rights. According to the lawsuit, an ICE official signed an administrative arrest warrant for Chung on the same night DHS agents detained Khalil.
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“The Trump administration’s unjust arrest of Mahmoud Khalil and targeting of Yunseo Chung is not simply an attack on a few individuals—it is a direct violation of civil liberties and due process. We stand with more than 120 organizations statewide to call on our elected officials to take immediate action by demanding Khalil’s release and a thorough investigation into the dangerous overreach of government surveillance on students’ Constitutionally protected speech. Right now, we are witnessing an unprecedented and chilling attack on students’ First Amendment rights across the country, and the administration has made it clear that it won’t stop with Mahmoud Khalil and Yunseo Chung. It is vital that our elected officials loudly and fully commit to protecting the fundamental rights of their constituents.”
In a statement, CIPC Executive Director Masih Fouladi said:
“The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil and the attempted arrest of Yunseo Chung are an egregious assault on due process and constitutionally protected free speech. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions of the Trump administration and, in particular, ICE because this is not just an injustice to a couple of individuals. This is part of a systematic and willful attack on our civil rights and civil liberties targeting our immigrant communities. The Trump administration has shown it will not hesitate to undermine our values as a nation of laws to silence and punish its critics. We call on all people to rise up and join us in demanding Khalil’s release and to hold the administration accountable.”
SEE ALSO: Free Mahmoud Khalil: Tell Your Members of Congress to Demand His Release
CAIR, its New York Chapter, and the law firm of Dratel & Lewis, recently filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Khalil and other on behalf of Columbia University students against Columbia University and the Committee on Education and Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives regarding the Congressional request to disclose thousands of student records.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CIPC Communications Director Edward Sifuentes, esifuentes@caimmigrant.org