His actions have reached beyond expressing fringe political or ideological views.
Margaux Jubin
(JNS)
The recent arrest of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil has sparked outrage among progressives and pro-Palestinian activists who decry his detention as an unconstitutional attack on free speech. However, quite the opposite is true. This case is not about censoring controversial ideology; it is a matter of immigration law, national security and law enforcement.
Khalil, a green-card holder from Syria, violated the terms of his residency by supporting a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. Under U.S. law, this constitutes grounds for deportation.
Green-card holders are not citizens, and as such, are not afforded the same free speech rights as full U.S. citizens. They are, in fact, required to abide by firmly established legal requirements to maintain their residency status. Anybody seeking entry or residency in the United States must renounce any affiliation with terrorist organizations, as indicated in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Section 212(a)(3)(B). Federal law forbids noncitizens from endorsing, supporting or promoting terrorist activity or groups. It makes engaging with such entities grounds for deportation under 8 U.S. Code § 1182. This particular provision enacts protections to U.S. national security by deterring people with extremist ties from obtaining legal status.
Khalil’s actions have reached far beyond expressing fringe political or ideological views. He participated in protests where Hamas propaganda was distributed with the Hamas logo, including materials from the “Hamas Media Office” and a booklet celebrating the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. He is also the self-proclaimed “spokesperson” for Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a group that has intimidated, threatened and harassed Jewish students, and violently occupied and vandalized campus buildings.
Hamas has been a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization for more than 28 years. It is responsible for horrific acts of violence, including the Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 people in Jewish communities in Israel’s south—and the kidnapping of another 251 men, women and children—the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Vocalizing support for Hamas and spreading terror propaganda is not a matter of free expression; it is a national security threat to America.
It’s important to note here too, that the same protesters who chant for “Death to Israel” chant for “Death to America.” The United States has a responsibility to protect its citizens from radical individuals who may offer material or ideological support to terrorist groups.
INA states that any noncitizen who “endorses or espouses terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization” is inadmissible and subject to deportation. This is not an unreasonable decision; it is simply the implementation of the law.
This national security enforcement measure is not unique to America. Countries regularly deny visas or rescind residency status for people who pose potential security risks. Khalil’s participation in extremist activities is more than just a university protest or a political statement—it is a clear alignment with groups that actively endanger American interests and allies.
By drawing an absurdly false equivalence between Khalil’s arrest and censorship, these “activists” simultaneously distract the public from the real threats to free speech. The legitimate threats to expression on campuses target Jewish and pro-Israel students, who face harassment, exclusion, censorship and even physical threats for being outwardly Jewish or stating their spiritual or familial connections to Israel.
Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest isn’t about suppressing dissent. It’s about security and upholding public order—something that violent, non-peaceful protesters actively undermine by glorifying martyrdom, praising terrorist leaders and relentlessly aiming to delegitimize Israel’s existence.
Green cards, visas and citizenship are a privilege, not a right. The United States has clear legal standards for who can remain in the country, and supporting terrorist organizations is a blatant violation of those standards.
Image: Columbia University College Walk, New York City. Credit: Wikimedia.
