There can be no ‘Israel exception’ for free speech | Kenneth Roth

Trump should reverse his misguided effort to deport Mahmoud Khalil

The Trump administration's threatened deportation of Mahmoud Khalil seems to reflect a dangerous disregard for freedom of expression - a blatant example of official censorship to curb criticism of Israel.

Khalil was a recent graduate of Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. He holds a green card, giving him permanent residence status, and is married to a US citizen. They are expecting their first child soon. Immigration agents arrested him last week in his university housing and sent him for detention from New York City to Louisiana. He had been a leader of protests against Israeli war crimes in Gaza.