Washington, D.C. – In an egregious assault against the First Amendment’s freedom of speech, this week, Trump and his administration abducted Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia University graduate student, green card holder, husband and father-to-be, from his home. Mahmoud was targeted for speaking out against the genocide in Gaza. The night of his kidnapping, ICE agents also threatened to detain Mahmoud’s 8-month pregnant wife if she resisted. Every person who values our freedoms in this country must demand Mahmoud Khalil be released and brought home immediately.
United We Dream Action released a statement saying:
“Mahmoud’s abduction must be a turning point for all of us to recognize that ICE’s purpose as an agency is to ruthlessly disappear our loved ones, our friends, and our family members. Millions of immigrants have been abducted by ICE since its inception, with many never returned. As we come together to demand Mahmoud’s immediate release, we cannot afford to forget that our freedoms and our safety are intertwined; whether you are a U.S. citizen, green card holder, DACA recipient, or undocumented immigrant, ICE and the Trump Administration see us all as targets.
Mahmoud’s disappearance is a horrifying escalation of the Trump regime’s efforts to take a sledgehammer to our rights and freedoms. Whether it is our freedom to speak about our beliefs, our freedom to dissent against the actions of our elected officials, or our freedom to have our loved ones come home safe without the threat of being abducted. This moment calls on all of us to fight with and for each other against the rising threats of fascism and violent repression in the places we call home. Together, we must disrupt Trump’s crusade. We must demand Congress reject any and all funding for ICE, and we must fight for the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil and all immigrants from ICE detention.”