(Because the arrest and effort to deport Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil is of enormous concern to academic freedom and freedom of speech, we will be issuing this daily update that will compile information related to this historic case. We hope this information will be of interest to you and helpful as you engage in support of upholding our freedoms.)

Dear Friend,

We have been closely following the arrest and detainment of fellow Arab American and Columbia student activist Mahmoud Khalil. I am sure you join me in outrage and concern over the treatment of Mahmoud, a legal permanent resident, over his lawful expression of free speech in defense of Palestinian human rights.

The language of officials, from the White House to the State Department to DHS, shows the arrest for what it truly is—the silencing of political speech deemed unwanted by our federal government. In fact, DHS officials referred people to the White House when inquiries were made about this case. To be clear, officials have made no claim that Mr. Khalil has engaged in any unlawful activities, insisting instead that the pro-human rights protests Mr. Khalil helped organize were antisemitic. In addition to this dangerous mischaracterization, this is an obvious violation of the First Amendment and a worrisome indication of future suppression for those whose political ideas do not align with the Trump Administration.

Disregarding fundamental rights and weaponizing our immigration system to chill dissent does not uphold the American ideals we aspire to; it is the playbook of dictators.

Over the last several days, our organization has worked to activate policymakers and civil rights organizations in support of Mahmoud. I ask today that you join us in demanding his immediate release and ask your member of Congress to sign on to a letter supporting his constitutional rights. The DEADLINE for your member to sign on is tomorrow.

Finally, as our First Amendment right to speak out in support of Palestinian human rights remains under attack, AAI has compiled important updates and articles about Mahmoud to ensure we are all informed about this significant case. Here are some crucial and informative articles on Mahmoud Khalil’s case as of March 12th.

Thanks for all you are doing,

Maya

DAY 4 - MAHMOUD KHALIL NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Today in New York, a federal judge extended an order prohibiting the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil to preserve jurisdiction on the matter. At the hearing held this morning, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman heard arguments regarding Mahmoud’s arrest and detainment.

Mahmoud is currently in a detention facility in Louisiana. His counsel is asking for him to be returned to New York in filings that question Mahmoud’s arrest and detention.

At the hearing, it became clear that Mahmoud has not been allowed private conversations with his lawyers since his detention last Saturday – Judge Furman ordered these conversations be allowed going forward. Beyond that, the Judge has not made any immediate decisions regarding Mahmoud’s detention following the hearing.

Important insight on the weaponization of anti Semitism:

"The importance of Khalil’s arrest cannot be overstated. The state entered the home of a legal US resident, seized and imprisoned him and are now trying to deport him on criminal charges of abetting terrorism – for exercising his constitutional right to free speech."

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/12/trump-antisemitism-free-speech

Marco Rubio personally signed off on the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil:

"Marco Rubio personally signed off on the arrest of Palestinian Columbia University student protest negotiator Mahmoud Khalil, using a narrow, little-used authority given to the secretary of state, per two sources within the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department."

https://zeteo.com/p/marco-rubio-personally-signed-off

Important insight into legal aspects of the case:

"President Trump’s social media post makes clear that, at least from his perspective, Khalil’s is not a special case. And that, to me, is the scariest part—for it suggests that the government intends to use these rarely invoked removal authorities in enough cases to seek to deter non-citizens of any immigration status from speaking out about sensitive political issues, even in contexts in which the First Amendment does, or at least should, clearly protect their right to do so."

https://www.stevevladeck.com/p/131-five-questions-about-the-khalil

AAI President Dr. James Zogby on News Nation to discuss the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil:

“I'm distraught because I see the unraveling of cherished freedoms and of liberal values, of academic freedom and personal rights that we've long adhered to and we've seen this administration dismantle a whole bunch of other programs. It took a generation to get those programs and those rights guarenteed, it's gonna take us a generation to bring them back but he's dismantling them in a matter of weeks."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QmORDGMmXw

AAI Executive Director, Maya Berry in Rolling Stone:

“Maya Berry, Executive Director of the Arab American Institute (AAI), says that for decades “there has been a concerted desire to put advocacy for Palestinian human rights — to place Arab Americans, specifically Palestinians — outside of what is deemed acceptable in terms of political opinions and political perspectives.” 

Full article: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/mahmoud-khalil-arrest-violation-first-amendment-1235294051/

Arab American Institute Foundation
1600 K Street, NW, Suite 601
Washington, DC 20006
United States