Protect Free Speech: Demand the Release of Mahmoud Khalil
Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and graduate of Columbia University, was a lead negotiator for the Gaza solidarity encampment at Columbia last year, mediating between protesters and the university. Last week, two men claiming to be ICE agents ambushed him and his pregnant wife at their university housing, stating that his student visa had been revoked. When Mahmoud told them he had a green card, the agents made a phone call and then told him, “We’re revoking that too.”
Now, Mahmoud is being detained in a private prison in Louisiana with no official charges. A federal judge has temporarily blocked his deportation, and his wrongful detention case will be heard Wednesday.
The U.S. government is attempting to silence a peaceful protester by stripping him of his legal residency and deporting him. This is an attack on the First Amendment that sets a dangerous precedent.
Tell your members of Congress that the government must immediately release Mahmoud Khalil, return him to his family, and stop violating the constitutional right to protest.
Contacts for this topic:
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].
I’m calling to ask [REP/SEN NAME] to defend our constitutional right to protest, and demand the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil. Mahmoud is a lawful permanent resident who has been detained without charges in retaliation for exercising his First Amendment rights.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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