Common Cause/NY Statement on Illegal Detention of Mahmoud Khalil

NEW YORK, NY (03/10/2025) (readMedia)-- This weekend, on the anniversary of the Selma civil rights protests, federal immigration officials detained a Palestinian activist for his role in protests at Columbia University last year despite not charging him with any crime. Immigration officials are now holding Mahmoud Khalil without notifying his family or lawyer of his whereabouts and have informed Mr. Khalil, who is a permanent resident, that they have "revoked" his green card status. In response, Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York, issued the following statement:

"The detention of Mahmoud Khalil – who has a United States Green Card – or any individual for their political speech is an attack on our fundamental rights, and makes all Americans less safe. Federal immigration officials cannot detain legal permanent residents without charging them with a crime, and they cannot move to deport them without a conviction. Regardless of what the ultimate charges are, or their legitimacy, the Trump administration's effort to stifle dissent and target individuals for their political views is fundamentally un-American, and a dangerous escalation of the administration's attacks on our democratic freedoms and the rule of law. The Trump administration must uphold Mr. Khalil's right to due process and release him from detention immediately."