The Trump Administration’s arrest, detention, and threat of deportation of Columbia protest leader and permanent legal resident Mahmoud Khalil, in violation of existing law and without due process, is an affront to the constitutional right to free speech to which everyone, not just American citizens or ideological allies, is entitled. While J Street U does not endorse Khalil’s actions or positions, we are appalled by the dangerous precedent set by his arrest. Our community can and must stand up for constitutional rights for all, even those with whom we may strongly disagree.
For an administration that claims to care about free speech, this is yet another regressive, anti-democratic step toward authoritarianism. Wherever Jewish students are made to feel unsafe, we call for education, dialogue and forceful, legal steps to combat antisemitism and ease tensions on campuses. While Trump will stop at nothing to attack higher education, we remain firm in our belief that universities are a tool for empathy, understanding and academic freedom.
If the administration was serious about fighting antisemitism, it would listen to Jewish students; it would seek to calm campus tensions rather than escalate them; and it might start by throwing out the slew of bigots and conspiracy theorists it has promoted to top positions in its own ranks.