The detention of Mahmoud Khalil is baseless, unprecedented, and illegal.


ACLU Supporter, footage of Mahmoud Khalil's unlawful arrest was released yesterday evening – showing what his pregnant wife saw when plainclothes officers entered their home and detained him – and it's horrifying.

Our client Mr. Khalil, a recent graduate student at Columbia University, was unlawfully detained last weekend – by officers who refused to present a warrant or any identification. They threatened Mr. Khalil's status as a lawful permanent resident, threw him in an unmarked car, and then shipped him across the country while keeping his lawyers and family in the dark about his whereabouts. All because of his advocacy in support of Palestinian rights.

No one should have to fear that the U.S. government is going to rip them from their families and send them hundreds of miles away because they exercised their First Amendment rights.

The unlawful arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil is unconscionable, unconstitutional, and illegal. Stop this abuse of power and tell ICE: Free Mahmoud Khalil. <[link removed]>

Free Mahmoud Khalil <[link removed]>

In just a week, over 65,000 ACLU supporters have joined us in demanding that ICE director Todd Lyons free Mahmoud Khalil immediately. We're so grateful to everyone who's joined us in calling for an end to this injustice. While your advocacy directly pressures ICE to release Khalil, our lawyers have teamed up with NYCLU, the Center for Constitutional Rights, CLEAR, and attorney Amy Greer to challenge Khalil's detention in court.

But the horrifying abuse of power we saw in the video of Khalil's arrest makes this moment even more urgent. We must continue to make clear that the government cannot choose to rip a man from his home as a response to constitutionally protected speech.

Mahmoud Khalil has been arrested, detained, and taken over 1,000 miles away from his family and lawyers, simply for exercising his First Amendment rights. We can't let this continue: Mahmoud Khalil should be released to his family.

Tell ICE Director Todd Lyons: This abuse is unprecedented and unacceptable. Mahmoud Khalil must be free. <[link removed]>

Thank you for continuing to take action against injustice.

Brian Hauss
Pronouns: He, him, his
Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project

P.S. If you're planning to protest this weekend, know your rights. Check out our guide for protecting your protest rights and share it with your community. <[link removed]>


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