Anti-Israel agitator Mahmoud Khalil denies feds’ claim that bedbugs drove him from NJ to Louisiana lockup
New York PostMAR 16
Mahmoud Khalil Deportation Efforts Ruled Likely Unconstitutional
Above: Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil talks to the press during the press briefing organized by Pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University in New York City on June 1, 2024. Image copyright: Selcuk Acar/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
This is an egregious case of judicial overreach. The president ought to have the right to remove non-citizens who wreak havoc on campus and support Hamas terrorism against Israel. The U.S. has a vested interest in fighting antisemitism and taking a stand against subversive foreign agitators turning colleges and universities into a veritable battlefield.
Democratic narrative
Mahmoud Khalil was detained on bogus grounds, which this judge thankfully recognized. The Trump administration is using every weapon possible to try and stifle free speech on campus, make the U.S. hostile to foreign students, and harm higher education. The U.S. must stand up for First Amendment rights, even if they disagree with the positions held.