New in PJ Media:
Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University anti-Israel activist whom the Trump administration has targeted for deportation, has become a darling of the left, as people who hate America so often do. The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) claimed Friday that Khalil’s arrest “has created a speech-chilling atmosphere of fear,” and charges that “the Trump administration’s actions represent a dangerous escalation of the president’s attempts to choke off the free speech rights of people on American soil.” And on Sunday, Khalil’s wife attempted to blow up the entire case against him, asserting that it was “ridiculous” and “disgusting” to say that Khalil supports Hamas.
This is all-important, because if Khalil is found to be a Hamas supporter, the case against him would be nearly open-and-shut. U.S. Code § 1182 states that “any alien” who is “a representative” of “a political, social, or other group that endorses or espouses terrorist activity” is “inadmissible.” U.S. Code § 1227 adds that such an alien “is deportable.” The Associated Press described Khalil two weeks ago as one of the “student leaders of Columbia University Apartheid Divest” (CUAD). The Washington Post reported last Tuesday that “No one disputes that Khalil was the face of Columbia University Apartheid Divest.”
Khalil was CUAD’s chief negotiator with Columbia administrators. Politico explained: “Khalil was a lead negotiator representing the student protesters to the Columbia administration during the school’s ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ last spring. The student group behind the encampment — Columbia University Apartheid Divest, or CUAD — had two main demands: that Columbia cut all its ties to Israel, including divesting and halting plans to build a ‘global center’ in Tel Aviv, and that the protesters themselves receive amnesty for their actions.”
However, apparently aware of how damaging that fact is to his case, Khalil himself disputes this. The BBC framed Khalil’s connection to CUAD as if it were merely something his opponents claimed: “Activists supporting Israel have accused Mr Khalil of being a leader of Columbia University Apartheid Divest (Cuad), a student group that demanded, among other things, the university to divest from its financial ties to Israel and a ceasefire in Gaza. Mr Khalil has denied that he led the group, telling the Associated Press (AP) that he only served as a spokesperson for protesters and as a mediator with the university.”
It’s easy to see why Khalil would want to distance himself from CUAD. In August 2024, it posted this on Instagram, then removed it once it started getting appalled notice from saner quarters: “We are Westerners fighting for the total eradication of Western civilization.” During the anti-Israel protests at Columbia, the demonstrators screamed “Death to America.”
There is more. Read the rest here.
John Pepple says
“… has created a speech-chilling atmosphere of fear.”
How about the speech-chilling atmosphere of fear created by the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, or t he murder of Theo van Gogh, or the attack on Charlie Hebdo? I’ve never seen noticed elite talk about these as episodes “speech-chilling.” It’s not like our government wants to execute this guy. They just want him out of the country. And he’s a foreigner, so how does that affect those of us who are American citizens? How does it chill our speech? It’s because of crazed thinking like this that I won’t contribute to the ACLU.
John Pepple says
Correction: I’ve never noticed any elites…
gravenimage says
+1
PacosMojo says
Do you recall when the ACLU stood up for AMERICAN CITIZENS being raided by heavily armed FBI goons at 3AM for the “crime” of peacefully protesting an abortion clinic or speaking at a School Board meeting? I don’t either.
Jon says
You (and the Administration) missed the even easier legal basis for deportation. It’s in that same section of 8 USC 1182 — subsection (VII):
“endorses or espouses terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization;”
࿗Infidel࿘ says
She can be sent w/ her husband to Syria, or to wherever he is deported
somehistory says
He didn’t kill anyone; he just supplied the gun.
He didn’t rob the bank, he just drove the get-away-car.
He didn’t murder the poor woman; he just bought the poison.
The ghoul and his wife….and she is a strange-looking creature (perhaps something went wrong genetically)…can deny that he had anything more to do with the dastardly deeds, the chants of “death” and supporting the demonic atrocities of hamas, than just being a ‘spokes” creature, or a “mediator.’
However, he had a **part**…a big part.
So, even if people believe the lying snakes and think that he only “spoke” on the behalf of terrorists, that still puts him on the side of the terrorists….and makes him a terrorist by supporting terror.
He didn’t burn the babies; he just said it was okay to burn the babies.
sporticus says
Al Jazeera referred to Kahlil as a permanent resident of the United States.
Is that a true description of Kahlil’s visa?
In any case, at what point is a visa holder not regarded as an alien?
I’ve always thought of an alien as a citizen of another country who has nothing more than a tourist’s visa at best.
I would expect that Kahlil’s lawyers would argue, depending on his residency status, that he is not an alien
somehistory says
He had a visa for school….which he finished….and a ‘green card’ which allows an alien to reside “permanently’ as long as he obeys the laws and abides by the rules for green card holders.
It means he can be deported for not abiding by the rules for green card holders and not obeying the laws. There are specific laws for this situation and they are being applied….except for the ignorant ‘judges’ who are meddling in where they don’t have authority.
The terrorist is an “alien,” who was allowed to stay until he was found by those who care and dare to apply the Laws, that he is a threat to national security, and have chosen to deport him.
sporticus says
Thanks.
Al Jazeera was very emphatic about his permanent residency. They also mentioned his marriage to an American citizen. I think they see it as a way of legitimizing his actions.
somehistory says
You are welcome.
They may “see” it that way, but it won’t wash. Many criminals are married to American citizens, and many are themselves. citizens. But the Law is clear about being a terrorist, or supporting terror and trying to bring down the U.S. government. Married to a citizen, or even being a citizen, supporting, funding, terror is still a crime.
And al jazeera is just another mozlum terror group.
jule says
I read somewhere that the wife is the daughter of a Hamas leader and she has been quite an actvist herself.
jule says
I read somewhere that the wife is the daughter of a Hamas leader and she has been quite an actvist herself.
Hrb says
Deport his spouse with him. Neither belong here. End of story.