Mahmoud Khalil To Be Deported After All
According to the judge, beliefs and legal protests are now grounds for deportation
Like many others, I’ve been following the news around Mahmoud Khalil and his arrest since it happened.
I watched the footage of him being arrested by thugs in plainclothes that claimed to be police, refusing to give their names or identify the agency they were with. Since then, multiple other people have been disappeared under similar circumstances.
Initially, Mahmoud was told that his student visa was being revoked because of his involvement in student protests for Palestine. Thing is, he didn’t have a student visa. He’s a green card holder, and a legal permenant resident in the U.S.
When informed of this fact, the thugs said that his green card was being taken away.
He was taken away, and later moved to a detention facility in another state while his heavily pregnant wife and their lawyer tried to track his location and get answers.
Recently, Marco Rubio submitted the government’s evidence to a judge to explain what their thinking is on why Khalil ought to be deported. The government acknowledged that he had not broken any laws, nor even come close.
All he had done was exercise his Constitutionally protected right to free speech.
They argued that his beliefs made him dangerous.
To my utter shock, the court agreed. Mahmoud Khalil is to be deported for his involvement in completely legal, peaceful protests. Needless to say, this sets a dangerous precedent.
Now, the U.S.A. has been in dire straights for some time. Democracy and the rule of law have been under threat for years, and the situation has worsened day by day since Trump has taken office again.
This is a whole new step. A step down a dangerous road, where your rights do not matter.
Mahmoud Khalil is a legal, fully recognized resident of the United States. He has a green card, he immigrated the lawful and correct way in the eyes of the Conservative party.
He did everything right, but he dared to state an opinion that Trump and his cronies don’t like.
For that, he’s being punished. For that, he won’t see his baby born. For that, his family is being torn apart and he is sentenced to suffer.
He has until April 23rd to file an appeal and I sincerely hope he goes before a saner judge who feels some measure of obligation towards the Constitution and the fundamental tenets of democracy.
If not, then every legal resident of the U.S.A. has cause to fear. This case is being fought so hard because the government wants a new cudgel to bring to bear in silencing dissent and shutting down objections from the people.
Elbows up, America. Don’t let them get away with this.
Solidarity wins.
I can tell you that there are millions of us standing up for what’s right. Last weekend, 5+ million of us protested. Unfortunately the corporate media refuses to acknowledge it. We’re doing it peacefully since violence would give the Trump regime an excuse to crack down on all of us. And if it comes time to actually fight for our rights, we will do that as well.
I stand with Canada and Ukraine and Europe and freedom loving people everywhere, and many Americans do as well. Keep on standing up against Trump and his enablers by boycotting American goods and whatever else you can do. I know it’s going to hurt me and millions of average, everyday Americans, but in my mind, it’s worth it to get rid of the nationalist christofascists in America.
I've been following this on Blue Sky and if the fascists get away with it nobody in the US will be safe. How long before republican theocrats start demanding that anyone who isn't a Christian should be deported.