Democrats Face Backlash for Supporting Arrested Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil

[Bkk Brian]

5 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Charge them and follow due process. 

What makes you think they're not? Even the UNI is finally taking some action

 

Columbia suspends and expels pro-Palestinian students who occupied building

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0rz4eqx4g7o

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, Evil Penevil said:

Here's the Hamas pamphlet that Khalil among others passed out  during the takeover of a building at Bernhard College.  Note that it's not a pamphlet that's merely ABOUT Hamas, but a pamphlet that was issued BY Hamas.  It bears the Hamas emblem and the words, "Hamas Media Office."   It's reasonable to believe that distributing official Hamas publications amounts to support of a terrorist group.

 

 

Link to the full pamphlet:  https://www.palestinechronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/PDF.pdf

Background story from the Hamas perspective:  https://www.palestinechronicle.com/hamas-document-reveals-why-we-we-carried-out-al-aqsa-flood-operation-summary-pdf/

Indeed, he was distributing this since last year. He's also been reported separately to the FBI

 

 

 

[Eloquent pilgrim]

32 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Except none of that is illegal or a threat to the US.

 

Denying any student the right to safely attend a class at a University, is illegal in the US; even if you didn’t know the law, I would have thought that simple logic would have helped you.

 

 

 

 

[Nick Carter icp]

10 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Charge them and follow due process. 

 

   Just revoke their Visas and send them home, just like Thailand does .

[Evil Penevil]

9 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Charge them and follow due process. 

 

Maybe you should read this document: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Takes Forceful and Unprecedented Steps to Combat Anti-Semitism  

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/01/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-takes-forceful-and-unprecedented-steps-to-combat-anti-semitism/

 

One reason  for Trump's  action is the failure of Columbia and other universities to protect Jewish students.  From Trump's Executive Order:

"Immediate action will be taken by the Department of Justice to protect law and order, quell pro-Hamas vandalism and intimidation, and investigate and punish anti-Jewish racism in leftist, anti-American colleges and universities."

 

This press release is also relevant:

 

U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Sends Letters to 60 Universities Under Investigation for Antisemitic Discrimination and Harassment

Letters warn of potential enforcement actions if institutions do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students on campus.

https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-educations-office-civil-rights-sends-letters-60-universities-under-investigation-antisemitic-discrimination-and-harassment

 

It looks like something is being done against antisemitism.

[Evil Penevil]

For those of you who want to know what Mahmoud Khalil has been up to while a student at Columbia, there's an extensive list here:

https://canarymission.org/individual/Mahmoud_Khalil

[Stewart12]

On 3/14/2025 at 8:18 AM, Eloquent pilgrim said:

 

 

Not charged as of yet; however, Mahmoud Khalil is a pro-Hamas activist, and as such, is a serious threat to the national security of the US; if you don’t think that is a good enough reason for him to be deported, then you are part of the problem.

 

Supporting and enabling terrorist sympathisers and antisemites is the reason that the Democrats were flushed down the gurgler at the recent election, something it seems you have failed to grasp.

 

 

 

 

He hasn't actually been accused of ANY crimes at all. In the U.S., we do not punish people based on unproven accusations or political affiliations, due process matters. He is a green card holder, and entitled to those protections.

 

Being pro-Palestinian is not the same as being pro-Hamas. Conflating the two is both intellectually dishonest and prejudicial, as it assumes that all support for Palestinian rights is support for a designated terrorist organization. That kind of misrepresentation has been used historically to silence legitimate political discourse and dismiss the concerns of an entire people. If the standard for 'national security threats' is simply holding a particular political view, then you are advocating for authoritarianism, not democracy.

If he does get charged with a crime, or is proven to be a supporter of Hamas, then by all means arrest him, charge him, and deport.
 

[300sd]

3 hours ago, suzannegoh said:

I'd like to understand that too.  In the US law, is there any distinction between the two?

Yes!

[coolcarer]

44 minutes ago, Stewart12 said:

 

He hasn't actually been accused of ANY crimes at all. In the U.S., we do not punish people based on unproven accusations or political affiliations, due process matters. He is a green card holder, and entitled to those protections.

 

Being pro-Palestinian is not the same as being pro-Hamas. Conflating the two is both intellectually dishonest and prejudicial, as it assumes that all support for Palestinian rights is support for a designated terrorist organization. That kind of misrepresentation has been used historically to silence legitimate political discourse and dismiss the concerns of an entire people. If the standard for 'national security threats' is simply holding a particular political view, then you are advocating for authoritarianism, not democracy.

If he does get charged with a crime, or is proven to be a supporter of Hamas, then by all means arrest him, charge him, and deport.
 

Yawn. Another who didn’t get past reading the topic article

[Evil Penevil]

 

55 minutes ago, Stewart12 said:

 

He hasn't actually been accused of ANY crimes at all. In the U.S., we do not punish people based on unproven accusations or political affiliations, due process matters. He is a green card holder, and entitled to those protections.

 You don't seem to realize that revocation of a Green Card or a student visa is an administrative procedure, not a criminal case.  A visa or Green card holder doesn't have to be  convicted of a crime.  Should the holder violate the terms under which the visa or Green Card was granted, it can be revoked by the State Department or Department of Homeland Security without a criminal court proceeding.  Accusations don't have to be proven in a court of law and affiliation with a terrorist group is a legitimate reason for deportation.

 

 BMs who sympathize with Mahmoud Khalil seem to believe he had his Green Card revoked and is facing deportation because he gave a speech or took part in a demonstration.  That's totally wrong.  He did a whole lot more than that, even if he hasn't been charged with a crime.

 

55 minutes ago, Stewart12 said:

If he does get charged with a crime, or is proven to be a supporter of Hamas, then by all means arrest him, charge him, and deport.

 

I guess you missed the post I made that immediately preceded yours. The link  in it gave  numerous examples of his support  for Hamas.        https://canarymission.org/individual/Mahmoud_Khalil   There's no doubt he is a supporter of Hamas.  

[Stewart12]

29 minutes ago, Evil Penevil said:

 

 You don't seem to realize that revocation of a Green Card or a student visa is an administrative procedure, not a criminal case.  A visa or Green card holder doesn't have to be  convicted of a crime.  Should the holder violate the terms under which the visa or Green Card was granted, it can be revoked by the State Department or Department of Homeland Security without a criminal court proceeding.  Accusations don't have to be proven in a court of law and affiliation with a terrorist group is a legitimate reason for deportation.

 

 BMs who sympathize with Mahmoud Khalil seem to believe he had his Green Card revoked and is facing deportation because he gave a speech or took part in a demonstration.  That's totally wrong.  He did a whole lot more than that, even if he hasn't been charged with a crime.

 

 

I guess you missed the post I made that immediately preceded yours. The link  in it gave  numerous examples of his support  for Hamas.        https://canarymission.org/individual/Mahmoud_Khalil   There's no doubt he is a supporter of Hamas.  

 

No, I didn't miss it, I didn't think it was relevant. It's like taking "Lawyers for Israel' (a real lobby group in the UK) or AIPAC's word at face value. Biased sources will give anyone what they want to hear.

Your legal analysis is also seriously flawed. Here are the facts:

Green Card Revocation Requires a Legal Process

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cannot simply revoke a Green Card without initiating removal (deportation) proceedings in immigration court before an immigration judge (unless the person voluntarily relinquishes their status).
 

Unlike non-immigrant visas, which can often be revoked more easily, lawful permanent residency carries strong legal protections under U.S. law.
 

The government must present specific legal grounds for removal, and the individual has the right to challenge the decision, seek waivers, and appeal.
 

In removal proceedings, the burden of proof is generally on the government to show that the LPR has committed an offense that warrants deportation, in other words, proof is required. Accusations alone are not enough. Even in cases of suspected terrorism ties, the government typically relies on classified intelligence, which may be challenged in court.
 

The State Department does not have the authority to revoke a Green Card. It oversees visa issuance but not permanent residency revocation. That falls under DHS and immigration courts. The claim that DHS can revoke an LPR’s status administratively without legal proceedings is misleading.

A Green Card holder can be deported for:

Committing certain crimes (e.g., aggravated felonies, drug offenses, crimes of moral turpitude).

Engaging in terrorism-related activities (which is broadly defined).

Fraud in obtaining the Green Card.

Abandoning permanent residency.

However, each of these requires evidence, legal review, and due process.