Trump’s Arrest Attempt Sparks Outcry: The Department of Homeland Security under the Trump administration has been highly active these days, arresting many students over antisemitism. Most of these arrests are made on the grounds of connections with Hamas. Trump’s arrest attempts have sparked outcry all across the country with students protesting the arrests. If you want to know more about the protests and the arrests, this article is for you. It brings you everything you need to know about how Trump’s arrest attempt sparked outcry. The following article also includes statements from the public.
Trump’s Arrest Attempt Sparks Outcry: Mahmoud Khalil’s Arrest
Mahmoud Khalil who is a recent graduate and also one of the most popular faces of the university’s high-profile protests, was arrested earlier this month despite holding a permanent residency green card. The DHS confirmed his arrest and claimed he led activities aligned with Hamas. Trump’s administration stated it is the first of many to come. The President also wrote on the Truth Social platform that they know many students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, and anti-American activities, and the Trump administration will not tolerate it.
Khalil’s Arrest Sparks Protests
The American Civil Liberties Union criticized Khalil’s arrest and also called it unprecedented, illegal, and un-American. A director from the ACLU also stated that the government’s actions are obviously intended to intimidate and chill speech on one side of a public debate. Over a thousand protesters also gathered in New York expressing their outrage at Khalil’s arrest. One of the protesters called the arrest a kidnapping, while others stated that this was a moment of dismal in American history. Michael Thaddeu stated that the country must not go down this authoritarian path one step further.
Momodou Taal’s Arrest
Momodou Taal, who is a UK as well as The Gambia citizen, is one of three academics who filed a suit against the Trump administration over the weekend. He alleged that the executive orders unconstitutionally threaten immigrants who are protesting the administration and its allies with deportation. Friday morning, I received an email from a Justice Department lawyer citing the lawsuit. The email directed him to surrender to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Taal’s attorney stated they got no documents stating why Taal could be facing removal. Eric Lee, Taal’s attorney stated this should concern all those who want to prevent Trump from establishing a dictatorship.
Badar Khan Suri’s Arrest
The DHS also arrested Badar Khan Suri, a researcher at Georgetown University, over similar grounds. The department claimed that Suri was spreading Hamas propaganda and also had close connections to a known or suspected terrorist who is a senior advisor to Hamas. Don Beyer, who is a Virginia congressman, as well as his attorney, mentioned that the justification given for the violations of Mr. Suri’s right to due process is also a violation of the Constitution. He also called it a blatant attack on the First Amendment. Beyer also stated that Suri and his wife are, unfortunately, the latest victim of President Trump’s assault on the freedom of speech.
Statement From UN Secretary-General’s Spokesman
The arrests also attracted the attention of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, and his spokesman made a statement. His spokesman mentioned how it is crucial to underscore the importance of respecting the right to freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly everywhere.
