The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Friday launched the complete video of Palestinian activist and Columbia College graduate Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest final weekend as outrage grows over his detention by immigration officers.
Khalil was arrested by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Saturday after taking part in a number one function in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia final yr.
The roughly eight-minute video, which was taken by Khalil’s spouse Noor Abdalla, reveals ICE brokers handcuffing him and main him out of his university-owned residence. Abdalla then calls his lawyer and follows the brokers exterior.
When requested for his or her names by Abdalla within the video, the brokers refuse to offer them, however present the handle they are saying they had been taking Khalil to. The video then reveals the brokers driving away.
He was taken to a detention middle in New Jersey on Saturday earlier than being transported to a facility in Louisiana.
When requested for touch upon the video, Homeland Safety Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin informed The Hill in an announcement, “It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America.”
“When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked and should not be in this country,” McLaughlin added.
Khalil, who’s an Algerian citizen of Palestinian descent, is a authorized everlasting resident of the U.S. within the nation on a inexperienced card. Abdalla is a U.S. citizen.
Khalil’s attorneys wrote in court docket filings on Friday that he felt like he was being kidnapped throughout his detainment.
“Throughout this process, Mr. Khalil felt as though he was being kidnapped. He was reminded of prior experience fleeing arbitrary detention in Syria and forced disappearance of his friends in Syria in 2013,” his attorneys wrote in court docket filings.
“It was shortly after this that Mr. Khalil left Syria. At no time throughout this process did any of the agents identify themselves.”
Greater than 100 Home Democrats despatched a letter to Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an evidence for Khalil’s arrest.
The Trump administration has moved to revoke Khalil’s greencard, claiming he has advocated for Hamas, which the U.S. considers a terrorist group. A federal choose blocked efforts to deport Khalil, who has not been charged with a criminal offense, amid the continued court docket deliberations.
On Wednesday, Rubio informed reporters at a press briefing that the U.S. has the appropriate to disclaim visas for “virtually any reason.”
“If you tell us, when you apply, ‘Hi, I’m trying to get into the United States on a student visa, I am a big supporter of Hamas, a murderous, barbaric group that kidnaps children, that rapes teenage girls, that takes hostages, that allows them to die in captivity, that returns more bodies than live hostages,’” he mentioned. “If you tell us that you are in favor of a group like this, and if you tell us, when you apply for your visa, and by the way, ‘I intend to come to your country as a student and rile up all kinds of anti-Jewish student, antisemitic activities, I intend to shut down your universities.”
Khalil’s attorneys mentioned there is no such thing as a proof he has offered assist to any terror group.
