Today, the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-DFW), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization plans to join Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and other civil rights organization groups and individuals who stand against the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil and the revocation of the immigration statuses of international students in Texas Universities and Universities across the nation over their anti-genocide activism.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 15, 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: ICE Office Field Office Location, 8101 N. Stemmons Frwy, Dallas, TX 75247
CONTACT: Mustafaa Carroll, CAIR-TX, DFW Executive Director, mcarroll@cair.com, (832) 549-1042
On Friday April 11, a U.S. immigration judge ruled that Columbia University anti-genocide activist Mahmoud Khalil can be deported for his peaceful political activities and beliefs is a “dangerous, unconstitutional” decision that must not stand. The Judge gave Khalil’s attorneys until April 23 to request relief to stop his deportation.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“This Louisiana immigration judge’s dangerous, unconstitutional ruling allowing the deportation of a legal permanent resident because the current administration wants to punish him for exercising his First Amendment right to criticize the Israeli government’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza must not stand.
“Although today’s ruling is just the first step in a long legal process, it should be alarming to all Americans who cherish the Bill of Rights and basic freedoms like free speech. “We are confident that federal courts will see through the Trump administration’s lawless attack on free speech and that the movement against the Israeli government’s genocide will continue to grow in our nation, despite these Orwellian attempts to suppress free speech.”
According to a report by the Texas Tribune, more than 250 international students’ immigration statuses revoked across Texas universities in a wave of removals from a federal database that have swept across the state and the nation, according to university officials and media reports.
CAIR-TX, DFW Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll stated:
“All Americans, especially those in Texas, should be appalled and concerned by this disturbing unconstitutional trend in the government’s desperate attempt to silence free speech of those they disagree with. We should be reminded that the U.S. Constitution protects all people living in the United States, regardless of their immigration status. Arresting and deporting people simply for ideological reasons is reminiscent of totalitarian governments.”
Hundreds of students face deportation in a Trump administration crackdown on those who have spoken out against the far-right Israeli government’s genocide targeting the Palestinian people.
CAIR chapters nationwide have spoken out against the campaign to silence criticism of Israel’s genocide. Join the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in urging your members of Congress to demand that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immediately release anti-genocide activist Mahmoud Khalil and end the revocation of the immigration statuses of international students who dare speak out against genocide.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: Mustafaa Carroll, CAIR-TX, DFW Executive Director, mcarroll@cair.com, (832) 549-1042